bereavement
Bereavement, Grief and Loss
Bereavement, loss and grief can affect anyone at any stage of life; from a baby to a pensioner. Loss as a child can continue to affect a person throughout the whole of their life if not dealt with, and losing someone as an adult can throw up all sorts of emotions. can can throw life into a turmoil and require processing and adjustments.
We tend to think of loss and bereavement as losing a loved-one, but it can also apply to losing a pet, financial security, a job , a home or a state of being., such as health or safety, whether that is physical, emotional or mental . It can affect people very differently, although it is commonly understood that there are 4 stages of bereavement:
1. Accepting that your loss is real.
2. Experiencing the pain of grief.
3. Adjusting to life without the person or thing you have lost.
4. Putting less emotional energy into grieving and putting it into something new
Not every one will move through these in order and the process can feel very erratic, out of control and scary. Usually these feelings diminish over time.
If you would like someone to talk to about grief or loss, no matter how long ago, then please get in touch.
Some of the most common symptoms of bereavement, loss or grief:
Shock and numbness – this is usually the first reaction to loss, and people often talk about "being in a daze"
Overwhelming sadness, with lots of crying tiredness or exhaustion
Anger – towards the person you've lost or the reason for your loss
Guilt – for example, guilt about feeling angry, about something you said or did not say, or not being able to stop your loved one dying