Articles
What's It Like to Grieve?
Linda Snouffer, LCSW
- Grief may be responsible for physical symptoms such as insomnia, appetite changes, actual illness
- Grief affects perception--how we see ourselves and others, how we make decisions
- Immediate reactions to grief--shock, sadness--are known and expected, but we may be unprepared for its long-term manifestations
- Almost every emotion can be part of a grief reaction: fear, anger, relief, peace, despair, guilt, agitation, and a seemingly bottomless sorrow may all be part of grief. There is no order, scale, or time limit to these emotions, and normal grief is unpredictable
- Individual religious faith may be a source of comfort or a source of struggle in the face of loss
- Grief may prompt some to withdraw from life and push others to stay too busy to feel
- Grief reactions are as different as the people who experience them, there is no right way to grieve
- Grief is not a weakness, but a necessity. A loss and its meaning can become part of a healthy and happy life
- Take time to get support from others and to be alone. Put off important decisions
- Take control of small things. Identify the tasks that can be easily accomplished and give yourself credit for completing them
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