What We Lose and Grieve
Grief can come in many forms. While it may be usual to understand grief as coming after the loss of a person close to us, otherwise known as bereavement, we often grieve non-human things as well. These include grieving the loss of a pet or a job, or even of intangible things, such as a relationship or our faith.
To dive deeper into grief in the form of bereavement, it may result from the loss of a loved one, or from more specific circumstances surrounding a loss. These include feelings of shock and guilt that can arise from losses due to suicide, which can intensify the experience of grief, or grief that arises from the anticipation of the death of close ones, which may differ from the norm.
Types of Grief
Acute or Short-Term Grief
Ultimately, the signs that can be observed as an individual grieves manifest in different ways, depending on the duration of the grieving process.
Signs of Acute or Short-Term Grief
- Shock
- Numbness
- Negative emotions (eg. guilt, anger, hostility, depression)
- Changes in appetite
- Difficulties sleeping
- Trouble concentrating
These signs are commonly experienced during the lowest point of processing loss, but eventually acute grief is often seen in hindsight to be a healthy and crucial part of coping with loss.
Complicated Grief
Signs of Complicated Grief
- Grief that persists for long periods of time (months and years)
- Grief that does not seem to get better
- Sense of hopelessness
- Detachment (from self or others)
This form of grief may be less healthy, with individuals possibly experiencing painful feelings that do not lessen over time, such that professional intervention may be required.
Coping with Grief and Loss
We all experience loss and grief differently, and these feelings may not follow a standard trajectory. It is important to allow ourselves the time and space to process loss at our own pace, where we may feel fine one moment but struggle in the next. At the same time, we should keep in mind that there are times when we might feel overwhelmed by our loss, and when our grief might seem everlasting. It is in such situations that we can consider turning to others for support or seek out professional help to deal with these feelings.
