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Grief

What is grief?

We all encounter the pain of loss in our lives. Although death is a part of life, we are often not prepared for the departure of our loved ones.
 

Usually, we experience significant losses in the later stages of life when we have a better understanding of the nature of death and grief. Since grief is an individual experience, people and families can respond to loss in very different ways. However, there are some common experiences that generally accompany grief.

In the first days and weeks after the death of a loved one, people often feel numbness, shock, or heightened anxiety; they may cry constantly or, conversely, be unable to cry at all. Sleep problems and physical anxiety symptoms may arise. Some people can calmly perform practical tasks, which may cause feelings of guilt, as if they do not care enough. This indicates a state of shock, and the actual impact of the death may manifest later. Another person may be unable to cope at all and might need practical and emotional support.

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There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Some people feel very restless and want to stay busy, for example, by organizing their home or immediately putting away their loved one’s belongings. Others may have unusual experiences, such as hearing or feeling the presence or voice of their departed loved one. Some may feel that there is no point in moving forward with life. Guilt and thoughts of what could have been done differently are common. Guilt is particularly prevalent when the passing of a loved one brings a sense of relief, such as in situations where the loved one had been seriously ill for a long time and caring for them had been exhausting.

Sources

enesetunne.ee/enesetunde-haireseisundid/lein/mis-on-lein/

psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/grief

For dealing with grief