Bereavement refers to the process of recovering from the death of a loved one, and grief is a reaction to any form of loss. Both encompass a wide range of emotions such as fear, anger and deep sadness.

The process of adapting to a loss can dramatically differ from person to person, depending on their background, beliefs, relationship to the person who has passed and other factors. Symptoms of grief can be physical, emotional and social. A few common symptoms in these categories are:

Physical

• Crying and sighing
• Headaches
• Loss of appetite
• Difficulty sleeping
• Weakness
• Fatigue

Emotional

• Feelings of shock and disbelief
• Feelings of sadness and yearning
• Feelings of worry or anger
• Feelings of frustration or guilt

Social

• Feeling detached from others
• Self-isolation from social contact
• Behaving in ways that are not typical for you

Every grieving experience is different. A person may be able to continue their day-to-day routine after one loss, yet not be able to get out of bed after the loss of someone or something else. Whatever your personal symptoms are, grief and bereavement counseling have been proven to help.

If you are experiencing grief-related thoughts, behaviors, or feelings that are distressing, please contact the Mindful Counseling Center today. We would be honored to help you explore how you can use mental health therapy to help you through this time.