Grief can be a hard subject to talk about because it often brings up feelings of discomfort, despair or sadness when thinking about those we’ve lost. Because of this, processing grief can be difficult. It’s totally normal to feel this way and want to avoid this topic all together.
However, it’s important to talk about because grief is universal, and everyone will experience it in their lifetime. There is no way to do grieving perfectly, and there are no rules on how we can or should grieve. Until that loss is felt, we often do the best we can with the information and tools we have.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT PROCESSING GRIEF
Grief can bring up unpleasant emotions.
When we grieve, we can feel a range of emotions such as sadness, anger, guilt, loneliness or other painful emotions. It’s important to know that you are not alone and you’re not the only one whose experienced these feelings when processing grief. It’s important to accept our feelings rather than denying them as this can help with the grieving process.
Grief does not have a set time frame.
We can feel fine one moment and not the next and that’s okay. Some people describe the emotions that come with grief as waves. Some waves are easier to ride, while others can make us feel totally overwhelmed to where it’s hard to keep our head above water. These waves are normal and you’re not alone if you feel this way.
Grief is experienced differently by everyone.
Not everyone has the same experience of grief and this is highly individualized. Everyone has different ways of processing and not one way is better than another. Everyone can have different needs when grieving, so it’s important to ask what would be helpful rather than assuming.
Grief is complex and experienced differently by each individual. Knowing that you are not alone in these feelings can help mitigate any loneliness you may feel. If you notice that grief is ruling your day to day and disrupting your life, it is good to reach out and seek help from a professional.
At Heartland Therapy Connection here in Kansas City, we can help you go through the grieving process. Please reach out to us at 816-287-0252 if you would like a helping hand to walk with you through this process.
And remember, whatever you are going through you are not alone. There are others who want to help you.
