Loss and Grief
There are few certainties in life unfortunately, loss is one of them. Grief is a very natural response to loss and most commonly follows a major life event such as death of a loved one, divorce or separation, major financial loss, or miscarriage, it also can come as a result of smaller, less life-altering losses.
Common Symptoms of Loss & Grief Include:
⦁ Feelings of intense emotional pain and sadness
⦁ Preoccupation with the loss
⦁ Feelings of hopelessness or emptiness
⦁ Avoidance of reminders of the loss
⦁ Detachment and isolation from friends, family, and support network
⦁ Difficulty engaging in happy memories of the lost person or time before the loss
⦁ Lack of desire to pursue previously enjoyed hobbies or activities
⦁ A reduced sense of identity
⦁ Fearfulness and Anxiety
⦁ Depression
⦁ Psychosomatic symptoms (unexplained pain in the body e.g. continuous muscle ache)
How I Can Help
While there is no right way to process grief, when grief prevents you from doing the things you used to do (go to work, socialise, sleep regularly), it may help to work through grief and loss with a therapist. At life-giving therapy I can help you to process and work through the difficult and often complicated feelings surrounding loss. This may also include helping you to better understand the wide range of reactions you may be experiencing and allow you to express your feelings of loss in a safe, compassionate environment. My focus is to help you to move through grief in a healthy way so as to heal pain, feelings of sadness, deal with lingering guilt or shame, and learn coping mechanisms to help move forward and live a more fulfilling life.