Grief and Loss 512-471-3515 Student Services Building - 5th Floor Life After Loss: Dealing with Grief Loss is an inevitable part of life, and grief is a natural part of the healing process. The reasons for grief are many, such as the loss of a loved one, the loss of health, or the letting go of a long-held dream. Dealing with a significant loss can be one of the most difficult times in a persons life. Different Kinds of Loss Feelings of loss are very personal, and only you know what is significant to you. People commonly associate certain losses with strong feelings of grief. These can include: Loss of a close friend Death of a partner Death of a classmate or colleague Serious illness of a loved one Relationship breakup Death of a family member Subtle or less obvious losses can also cause strong feelings of grief, even though those around you may not know the extent of your feelings. Some examples include: Leaving home Illness/loss of health Death of a pet Change of job Move to a new home Graduation from school Loss of a physical ability Loss of financial security Grief and Loss Quick Jump Sudden versus Predictable Loss How Long Does Grief Last? Normal Grief Reactions Grief as a Process of Healing Culture, Rituals, and Ceremonies Coping With Grief Supporting Other Who Are Grieving Resources Readings on Grief and Loss Sudden versus Predictable Loss Sudden or shocking losses due to events like crimes, accidents, or suicide can be traumatic. There is no way to prepare. They can challenge your sense of security and confidence in the predictability of life. You may experience symptoms such as sleep disturbance, nightmares, distressing thoughts, depressed mood, social isolation, or severe anxiety. Predictable losses, like those due to terminal illness, sometimes allow more time to prepare for the loss. However, they create two layers of grief: the grief related to the anticipation of the loss and the grief related to the loss itself. How Long Does Grief Last? The length of the grief process is different for everyone. There is no predictable schedule for grief. Although it can be quite painful at times, the grief process should not be rushed. It is important to be patient with yourself as you experience your unique reactions to the loss. With time and support, things generally do get better. However, it is normal for significant dates, holidays, or other reminders to trigger feelings related to the loss. Taking care of yourself, seeking support, and acknowledging your feelings during these times are ways that can help you cope. Normal Grief Reactions When experiencing grief, it is common to: Feel like you are going crazy Have difficulty concentrating Feel sad or depressed Be irritable or angry (at the deceased, oneself, others, higher powers) Feel frustrated or misunderstood Experience anxiety, nervousness, or fearfulness Feel like you want to escape Experience guilt or remorse Be ambivalent Feel numb Lack energy and motivation Grief as a Process of Healing It is important to note that the grief process is not linear, but is more often experienced in cycles. Grief is sometimes compared to climbing a spiral staircase where things can look and feel like you are just going in circles, yet you are actually making progress. Being patient with the process and allowing yourself to have any feelings about the loss can help. If you feel stuck in your grief, talking to a counselor or a supportive person may help you move forward in the healing process. Culture, Rituals, and Ceremonies Your cultural background can affect how you understand and approach the grief process. Some cultures anticipate a time to grieve and have developed rituals to help people through the grief process. Grief rituals and ceremonies acknowledge the pain of loss while also offering social support and a reaffirmation of life. You may not be aware of how your own cultural background affects your grief process. Talking with family, friends or clergy is one way to strengthen your awareness of possible cultural influences in your life. Friends and family may be able to help you generate ideas to create your own rituals. Some have found solace in creating their own unconventional ceremonies, such as a funeral or ceremony with personal friends in a private setting. Coping with Grief Each one of us has an individual style of coping with painful experiences. The list below may help you generate ideas about how to manage your feelings of grief. Talk to family or friends Seek counseling Read poetry or books Engage in social activities Exercise Eat healthy, good foods Seek spiritual support Take time to relax Join a support group Listen to music Be patient with yourself Let yourself feel grief You may want to experiment with these ideas or create a list of your own. Talking to friends who have dealt with loss in the past can help you identify new ways of coping. Only you know what works best with your personality and lifestyle. One way to examine your own style of coping is to recall the ways youve dealt with painful times in the past. Its important to note that some ways of coping with grief are helpful, like talking to others or writing in a journal. Others may be hurtful or destructive to the healing process, like abusing substances or isolating yourself. Healthy coping skills are important in resolving a loss and helping you move forward in the healing process. Supporting Others Who Are Grieving As the shock of the loss fades, there is a tendency on the part of the griever to feel more pain and sadness. Well-meaning friends may avoid discussing the subject due to their own discomfort with grief or their fear of making the person feel bad. As a result, people who are grieving often feel more isolated or lonely in their grief. People who are grieving are likely to fluctuate between wanting some time to themselves and wanting closeness with others. They may want someone to talk to about their feelings. Below are some ways that you can help a friend experiencing loss. Be a good listener Ask about their feelings Just sit with them Share your feelings Ask about their loss Remember the loss Make telephone calls Acknowledge the pain Let them feel sad Be available when you can Do not minimize grief Talk about your own losses To One In Sorrow Let me come in where you are weeping, friend, And let me take your hand. I, who have known a sorrow such as yours, can understand. Let me come in -- I would be very still beside you in your grief; I would not bid you cease your weeping, friend, Tears bring relief. Let me come in -- and hold your hand, For I have known a sorrow such as yours, And understand. -Grace Noll Crowell Resources UT Counseling and Mental Health Center: 512-471-3515 CMHC Crisis Line (24 hours/day, 7 days/week): 512-471-CALL (2255) (UT Students Only) American Cancer Society: 800-ACS-2345 First Candle (grief support following the death of an infant): 800-221-7437 Austin Center for Attitudinal Healing (support for individuals and families experiencing serious illness, grief, or loss): 512-327-1961 The Compassionate Friends (grief support after the death of a child): 877-969-0010 For the Love of Christi (grief support program for those that have lost a loved one): 512-467-2600 Hospice Austin (end-of-life care): 512-342-4700 Project Transitions (serving people with HIV and AIDS): 877-969-0010 Samaritan Center for Counseling and Pastoral Care (interfaith counseling center): 512-451-7337 South Austin Hospital Spiritual Care Department: 512 816 7198 Reading List Many of the books listed below can be found at UT Libraries and/or the Health Promotion Resource Center, located in SSB 1.106. The HPRC provides a lending library of self-help books, audiotapes, videocassettes, and brochures on a variety of topics. HPRC Lending Library How to survive the loss of a love by Colgrove, M., Bloomfield, H. & McWilliams, P. Prelude Press (1993) Companion to Grief by Kelley, P. New York: Simon & Schuster (1997). When Someone You Love is Dying by Kopp, R. & Sorenson, S. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan (1985). When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Kushner, Harold Schocken Books (1981). Learning to Say Good-bye: When a Parent Dies by LeShan, Eda New York: Avon (1988). Remembering with Love: Messages of Hope for the First Year of Grieving and Beyond. by Levang, E. & Ilse, S. Minneapolis, MN: Deaconess Press (1992). Mind over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think by D. Greenberger & C.A. Padesky (New York: The Guilford Press, 1995). (Available at UHS Health Promotion Resource Center.) Seven Choices: Taking the Steps to a New Life after Losing Someone You Love by Neeld, E. New York: Delacorte (1992). How to go on Living When Someone You Love Dies by Rando, Therese New York: Bantam (1991). Beyond grief: A Guide for Recovering From the Death of a Loved One. by Staudacher, C. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger (1987). Necessary Losses by Viorst, Judith New York: Fawcett Gold Medal (1986). Understanding Grief: Helping Yourself Heal by Wolfelt, Alan Muncie, IN: Accelerated Development (1992). The Journey Through Grief by Wolfelt, Alan Ft. Collins, CO: Companion Press. (1997).
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 09:13:57 +0000
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