Grief is a natural response to loss and can feel overwhelming. From shock or anger to disbelief, guilt, and profound sadness, complex and unexpected emotions can impact your physical health, making it difficult to sleep, eat, or even think straight. These are normal reactions to loss—and the more significant the loss, the more intense your grief will be. You have the right to feel sad, heard, and validated. It might feel as though your support system cannot validate these difficult emotions, and as a result, you suppress the feelings. The chronic stress of pent-up emotions can cause further suffering long-term physical or psychological damage. Working with a grief coach allows for the opportunity to release these emotions.
Death
Death often results in a multifaceted upheaval in life. The primary loss can be compounded by secondary losses. Secondary losses include financial impact, change in relationships, change in identity, and disruptions to one’s faith or worldview. While they are a normal part of grief, they can be overwhelming.
Non-Bereavement loss or “Living losses.”
Examples include but are not limited to relationship loss, facing a chronic health diagnosis, or family estrangement. These events can activate a grief response and a highly complex mix of emotions and pain.
The pandemic
The pandemic has brought a host of difficulties for many people. It is a confusing time, wrought with fear and concern for the future.