How to Address Personal Grief

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By dthere
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Feelings of grief are painful. As we allow feelings of grief to become the center of our awareness, we often feel overwhelmed and out-of-control. We may find that we do not want to continue in our grief because we think that we may fall apart. We know our grief by feelings of emotional pain often associated with uncontrollable crying. Some moments of grieving last a few seconds and some occasions seem to last hours. Byproducts of grieving are exhaustion, depression, and relief. It is important to be reminded that the experience of grief is a natural response of the experience of loss. What are some steps we can take to help us manage our feelings of grief?

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

The first step to addressing grief is to recognize that there has been a loss.
Step 2

Once a loss has been acknowledged, it is important to identify the nature of the loss. Did you lose a loved one, friend, or pet? Did you experience a relocation or did you experience a breakup of a relationship?
Step 3

Once you have identified the nature of your loss, you can decide how you will grieve. Ask yourself the following questions that can help you proceed:
a) Can I continue to function? (continue to work and keep up your responsibilities)
b) Do I need to take time off from work or my activities?
c) Am I eating well?
d) Am I getting enough sleep?
e) Do I have enough supportive people in my life?

Tips & Warnings

Recognize there is no time limit in grieving. Do not accept pressure from others to 'get over your grief'.
Do you think that your life is improving - that your feelings of grief are getting less intense through time? If not, perhaps you can benefit from counseling or from a support group.
Do you think you will benefit from going into counseling to help you work through your feelings of grief? If you feel you cannot manage your grief and remain functional, counseling can help you if you feel stuck.
Are you sharing your feelings with people who are supportive? Your relationships may change significantly because your pain may bring about changes in perception and lifestyle. You life priorities may change.
Recognize there may be some feelings of grief you carry with you throughout your life because some losses are never fully resolved. There may be loved ones that you continue to long for and intensely miss their companionship. Learning to accept some losses that seem to linger is part of moving on.