Grief

What is Grief?

Grief is the strong emotional suffering you experience when you lose someone or something you love. It is one of the most complex and difficult challenges you’ll ever face and one that everyone experiences differently. However, studies show that most people can recover from loss on their own with time, but it requires social support and healthy habits. One way to obtain social support and learn healthy habits is by seeking therapy in San Diego.

 

Common Causes of Grief

When most people think of grief, they immediately imagine that someone is mourning the loss of an individual. While this is often the most intense form of grief, it’s certainly not the only cause of it. Other losses that may cause grief include: 

  • Loss of health

  • Losing a job

  • Divorce or break-up

  • Loss of financial stability

  • Death of a pet 

  • A miscarriage

  • Retirement

  • Loss of safety after a traumatic event

  • Selling your home

 

The Symptoms of Grief

Although everyone processes grief differently, there are some common symptoms most individuals experience. It’s also natural to have both physical and emotional symptoms. For instance, physically, people may feel nauseous, tired, achy, sleep-deprived, or even notice a change in their weight. In terms of emotional symptoms, individuals may feel sadness, guilt, anger, fear, and even shock. One question that many people have is how long does grief last, but there’s really no cut and dry answer since the process varies greatly between individuals. However, speaking with a therapist can help someone manage their emotions, so it’s not a bad idea to look into therapy in San Diego.

 

The Stages of Grief

In 1969, a psychiatrist named Elisabeth Kubler-Ross introduced the five stages of grief. She came up with this after studying the feelings of her patients dealing with a terminal illness but realized it was applicable to other types of loss as well. The five stages of grief include: 

  1. Denial

  2. Anger

  3. Bargaining

  4. Depression

  5. Acceptance

It’s important to know that not everyone will go through each one of these stages along their healing journey. In addition, they don’t necessarily go in sequential order. For example, some people may experience anger before denial or feel acceptance before bargaining. It all depends on the individual and the type of loss they experienced. Whatever stage you’re going through, you don’t have to go through it alone. Therapy in San Diego can help you with what may feel like a roller coaster of emotions. 

 

How To Cope With Grief

Grieving is never easy, but it’s very important to take care of yourself when you’re going through it. You likely feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and possibly even confused, but you must address your emotional and physical needs during these tough times. Many people try to repress their feelings or tuck them away, but it’s important to express how you feel. After all, unresolved grief can lead to a number of health problems, anxiety, depression, and even substance abuse. Another thing you should do is try to continue with your interests and hobbies. You might not feel like it, but doing activities you enjoy can help you process grief more effectively. It’s also critical to surround yourself with loved ones and reach out to others. Just talking to someone can make a world of difference.

 

Consider Therapy in San Diego for Grief Management

Working with a licensed therapist can help you better handle the anxiety, stress, guilt, or anger you might feel from the loss you experienced. Our therapists at Perlman Wellness are well-equipped with the tools you need to build resilience and create techniques to get through this difficult time. So go ahead and schedule an appointment today to begin your journey towards healing.