Finding Your Way Through Grief
Grief is a natural response to loss. It can follow the death of someone we love, but grief can also arise from the end of a relationship, changes in family life, loss of health, work, identity, dreams or a way of life.
There is no single way to grieve, and there is no set timetable. Grief can move between sadness, anger, loneliness, relief, confusion and even moments of laughter or joy. Sometimes we may feel that we are coping well, only to find that a memory, anniversary, place or familiar song brings the feelings back.
Allowing grief
We can sometimes put pressure on ourselves to 'move on' or get back to normal. But grief is not something we simply get over. Over time, we may learn to carry the loss while gradually finding ways to live alongside it.
It can help to give yourself permission to feel what is there, without judging how you think you should be feeling. Talking with someone you trust, spending time in nature, writing, creating, remembering, or simply allowing yourself some quiet time can all be part of the process.
When grief feels overwhelming
Sometimes grief can feel too heavy to carry alone. Counselling can provide a safe space to talk about what has been lost, make sense of difficult emotions, and find ways to gently move forward without having to leave the person, relationship or part of your life behind.
Most people think of grief as it relates to relationship losses. Yet grief, especially "disguised grief", underlies emotional reactions - e.g. bitterness, blame, grudges, hostility, negativity, regret, or resentment) or it is connected to different kinds of losses. Losses tied to life experiences that occurred in childhood or through adulthood.
