Have you experienced the loss of someone or something you deeply love?

Do you feel weighed down because you are grieving the dream of what you thought your life would be?

Grief is an inescapable part of life and something that we will all, at some point, experience in one way or another. You may feel knocked off of your feet, as if you have lost your balance and rhythm; you may feel broken and disconnected from yourself and others.

Grief is…

“…a reaction to any form of loss…[that] encompasses a range of feelings from deep sadness to anger. The process of adapting to significant loss can vary dramatically from one person to another, depending on their background, beliefs, relationship to what was lost, and other factors.” (Mastrangelo and Wood, 2016)

You may tend to connect the idea of grief as a response to the death of a loved one. However, grief can show up in your life as a reaction to any form of loss. Grief can be experienced after the loss of a relationship, estrangement from a family member or friend, loss of a pet, a job, a home, and even the loss of a dream of what you thought would be. Grief is painful and permeates all areas of life.

Common symptoms of grief include:

  • Shock and disbelief, feeling numb, even denial that the loss occurred

  • Sadness, despair, loneliness

  • Guilt, regret, and shame 

  • Anger, feeling resentful

  • Anxiety, helplessness, insecurity, fear

  • Physical symptoms like fatigue, nausea, sickness, weight loss or weight gain, aches and pains, night sweats, heart palpitations, feeling lightheaded

  • Insomnia and nightmares

  • Loss of motivation and feelings of being “stuck”

  • Prolonged periods of confusion, inability to concentrate

  • Disorganization and disorientation

  • Physical exhaustion 

  • Increase in substance use

If you have been experiencing these symptoms, please know that you are not alone in your struggle. There is hope for healing. Grief counseling is intended to help individuals grieve in a conscious and healthy manner. Grief counseling provides a safe space to begin to understand and cope with the difficult and painful feelings you may be experiencing. The goal being to learn to accept and integrate your feelings of grief and loss into your life and to ultimately move forward, regain hope, and make meaning. 

One of the bravest things you can do is to reach out for help and guidance during this painful time. Contact us today and, together, we will work together to honor and process your loss and move towards healing.