Grief and loss bring up feelings that we may not understand; perhaps we have not experienced to this point, and learning how to navigate through these feelings is so important. But many of us don’t even know what grief truly is.
WHAT IS GRIEF?
GRIEF IS THE NORMAL AND NATURAL EMOTIONAL RESPONSE TO LOSS. It’s not a disorder, phobia, depression or anxiety. That feeling you have is grief.
GRIEF IS THE CONFLICTING GROUP OF HUMAN EMOTIONS CAUSED BY AN END TO OR CHANGE IN A FAMILIAR PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR. (ANY CHANGES IN RELATIONSHIPS TO PEOPLE, PLACES OR EVENTS CAN CAUSE THE CONFLICTING FEELINGS WE CALL GRIEF). ·
GRIEF IS THE FEELING OF REACHING OUT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE, ONLY TO FIND WHEN YOU NEED THEM AGAIN, THEY ARE NO LONGER THERE.
GRIEF IN MY OWN WORDS:
“GRIEF IS ONE OF THOSE REALLY, TRULY MISUNDERSTOOD RESPONSES TO LOSS. IT’S UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY BECAUSE WE’VE NEVER REALLY BEEN TAUGHT HOW TO HANDLE OR DEAL WITH GRIEF. AND THOSE THAT WE MAY SEEK COMFORT FROM LIKE FAMILY, FRIENDS OR CLERGY, ARE OFTEN TIMES, NOT PREPARED TO KNOW HOW TO ADEQUATELY CONSOLE US, EITHER.
SO, WE GO THROUGH LIFE, AND IT HAPPENS TO US. AND THEN WE EACH, IN OUR OWN WAY, HAVE TO KIND OF WING IT, AS WE TRY TO DEAL WITH OUR LOSS, AND THE HOPES, DREAMS, AND EXPECTATIONS WE HAD.
AND BECAUSE WE DON’T KNOW QUITE HOW TO HANDLE OUR PAIN, WE FIND WAYS TO PUSH THE FEELINGS ASIDE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WE STAY BUSY OR ISOLATE BY WORKING LONG HOURS, STAYING AT THE GYM UNTIL IT CLOSES, OR DRINKING AT HOME, ALONE, BECAUSE WE JUST WANT TO STOP THE PAIN.
WHEN WE AVOID GRIEF, IT MAY FOLLOW US THROUGH LIFE FOR YEARS AS UNRESOLVED OR INCOMPLETE LOSS.
BUT IT’S NEVER TOO LATE OR TOO EARLY TO TAKE STEPS TO RESOLVE OR COMPLETE THE EMOTIONAL PAIN CAUSED BY GRIEF.”