What is Grief & Loss
Grief & Loss.
Grief is a normal, natural response to a loss. Loss can be through the death of a loved one, a pet, the end of a relationship, a dream, the loss of identity or self, the loss of a child in utero, a significant life transition, to even the loss of health or physical functioning and yes, I can go on and on, but we would be here all day. None of us grieves the same loss the same way. Yes, it is universal, and it is going to happen whether we like it or not, but we don’t all grieve the same way now, do we? We all experience grief in different ways, on other timelines and how we process that grief and loss is an intensely individual and personal journey. This is where counselling can help. It does, in fact, provide you with a safe space to navigate the emotions, as well as the physical symptoms and experiences that you have to deal with after a loss has occurred. Counselling is a collaborative process with you, the client, to help you find meaning in the loss so you can navigate this difficult time and to be able to move through to acceptance, to be able to live a more fulfilling life as you start your journey towards healing.
Manifestations of Grief.
Emotional reactions vary from crying, anger, sadness, anxiety guilt and don’t be surprised sometimes relief.
Physical symptoms include an inability to sleep or difficulty getting to sleep, or sleeping all day. Chest pain, palpitations, and nervousness. Nightmares. Nausea. Changes in eating, either too much, too little or not at all. Physical pain and psychosomatic complaints. Gastrointestinal upset. Restless. Agitated. Outbursts of anger.
Cognitive decline with difficulty concentrating and being forgetful or having brain fog to intrusive thoughts that do not stop.
Behavioural changes occur, such as being withdrawn from others, whether that be family, friends or peers. Work life is affected, and there is a loss of connections to groups, clubs, etc. Loss of interest in activities usually enjoyed.
How can Counselling help?
Counselling provides a safe, supportive, non-judgmental space to be able to talk about your grief and loss. To try to make sense of it and to give you tools and strategies to help you navigate this journey alongside you with a trained professional counsellor. Because you are the expert on your life, you know what you need going forward.
Gaining insight to understand your grief and loss. The grieving process and how it affects you emotionally, physically and spiritually.
A space for you to express the emotions that you are experiencing freely in a non-judgmental, compassionate, supportive and empathetic confidential safe space.
Finding meaning in the grief and loss so you can make sense of it and integrate it into your life in a more meaningful, positive way.
Rebuild and reconnect with the new life that you now have since the loss occurred, and build a sense of purpose, meaning and connection after the loss.
At 4ME Counselling, we acknowledge that every person’s journey through grief and loss is unique to that person and that no loss is the same, as we all grieve the losses at different times, react differently and have different meanings for each of us. Know you are not alone, we are here to help and support you through it. 4ME takes a personalised approach to providing you with supportive talk therapy as mentioned below;
Exploring your feelings, thoughts, emotions and memories that relate to your loss.
Identifying any negative thought patterns that can complicate the grieving process and keep you stuck, known as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Learning strategies such as mindfulness and relaxation techniques to manage the many overwhelming emotions and stress of it all.
Using a story, such as Narrative Therapy, to retell and reframe your story to honour the loss that you have experienced and discover and find hope for the future.
Creating memory making or rituals of remembrance to create meaningful ways to remember and honor the person or thing that was lost.
Support, empathy and compassion always, especially for traumatic grief and loss, whether by trauma, unresolved conflicts, loss of health, sudden loss of a beloved family member, friend or animal, etc.
Types of Loss
death of a loved one
divorce or break-up of a meaningful relationship
infertility/miscarriage
loss of sense of self
loss of employment
loss of identity due to life transitions/changes, i.e. menopause, change of life, retirement, etc.
sudden or chronic illness
health challenges
disenfranchised grief
a family member or friend knowing another is going to be palliative and die
loss of assets of financial security
the death of a family pet
Can you get over grief and loss?
Grief is not something you get over. It is something you have to learn to live with. Counselling is a safe space for you to process your loss and find a better, more positive way to cope with the grief and loss in the future, gaining resilience, strength and hope.
You’re not alone!
If you, the reader, are struggling with grief and loss, at 4ME, support is available. You don’t have to face it alone. At 4ME on this journey, we are here to guide you towards better ways to cope, to heal and be understood and give you the strategies to have much better outcomes than coping alone. Why? Because you matter!
Contact 4ME today to begin your journey and path towards understanding your grief and loss, accepting it and feeling more peaceful. This is your story, and we will use your strengths to help you develop the change you’re ready for, no matter what you are facing.