Grief is not just about death!
Grief is the normal and natural emotional reaction to any change in your familiar behavior patterns.
Think about all the different changes that may be affecting your life. A change in an ongoing relationship, a move, a change in employment, a change in health – these are just a very few of the many things that can trigger a grief response. While you may not recognize or think of these as grieving experiences, it doesn’t mean that they cannot cause you emotional pain.
Grief can be very overwhelming! We spend a lifetime learning how to acquire things, but no one ever really teaches us what to do when it comes to losing them. The vast majority of information we’ve learned on how to deal with loss is in fact “misinformation,” and offers very little help on an emotional level.
Grief is emotional, not intellectual. So often family and friends will give us logical reasons as to why we shouldn’t feel sad. The problem is that grievers have broken hearts, not broken heads. Those logical reasons rarely help you to feel any better. How often have you heard the statement “time heals all wounds” and “grief just takes time.” Time is not a factor in any way throughout your recovery from a loss. Time just goes by and allows you to become accustomed to feeling that emotional pain. It is what you do with that time that matters when it comes to moving forward with your life.
Don’t be surprised if you see something that reminds you of a fond memory of your loved one and then find yourself suddenly sad over any number of other things. Your ongoing grief will remind you of things you might have wished had been different, better, or more in your relationship. Those tears may be a sign that you have “unfinished business” in your relationship that you need to address. That is where you might find working with me and using the action plan in The Grief Recovery Method helpful. While you may continue to miss the physical presence of that relationship, you can greatly reduce the level of emotional pain that prevents you from enjoying your fond memories.
I look forward to the possibility of working with you soon!
