Grief and loss are a part of life for all of us. Loss is not only related to the loss of a loved one but can also be related to moving, divorce, loss of a job or career, chronic illness or injury, aging and life transitions, or the loss of a dream, etc. Grieving is a natural process that is painful yet healthy.
The nature of grief is that it is a very individual process for all of us and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. How we experience death or loss is impacted by several factors such as our personality, our own stage of life, our spiritual beliefs, our support system, and our previous experiences with loss. How we feel about death is also determined by the exact nature of our relationship with the deceased, the nature of how the person died (accident, ongoing illness, suicide), the timing of death (anticipated or sudden), and the age of the deceased, etc. We all grieve differently and couples experiencing grief often struggle because their spouse’s grief looks very different from their own. Children’s grief is often even more foreign to us as adults because children can grieve one minute and play the next.
Our expectations about grief often don’t match up with the realities of grief, not only for those we love but also for ourselves. Grief doesn’t follow an expected or predictable time line. And grief sometimes leaves us feeling utterly hopeless. We struggle to get out of bed in the mornings, much less find meaning and go on. Sometimes all we can do is take the next breath and try to find our way through it.
If you are grieving, know that you are not crazy. You may feel crazy when you struggle to accept the truth, when you think that you see the deceased person, or when you hear their voice. Those are just a few common experiences of grief. There are many others but know that you are not crazy and you are not alone.
If you are a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), know that it may take you more time to adjust to any grief or loss. Loss, life changes and transitions are especially difficult for HSP’s. Your emotions may feel more intense than the emotions of those around you and you may be more susceptible to feeling the emotions of others who are also grieving.
If you are in Colleyville, Grapevine, Keller, North Richland Hills, Southlake, or surrounding areas and would like to make an appointment or if you would like more information, please feel free to contact me at cecilylrodgers@gmail.com or 817-880-6535.
