Therapy & Counselling Resources > Grief And Bereavement

Grief and Bereavement

Grief is a reaction to a sense of loss. It is often described as an unhappy, painful or overwhelming emotion. It is important to recognise that there is no right or wrong way to grieve and there is no telling how long it will take. The reactions we have are natural and vary from person to person. Recovery and healing take time. It can be difficult to understand the reaction we have when we lose someone or something of value to us. We may have feelings of panic, confusion, disbelief and also anger and resentment. Our feelings can change from moment to moment and we can feel lost or stuck.

Adjustment and adaptation to loss will be different for different people. Some people find that therapeutic conversations with a grief or bereavement counsellor can help. This can be a way of dealing with your feelings of loss. It can also help to give yourself permission to be disorganised, not expect too much from yourself and to take physical care of yourself.

There is no definite answer to how long grief will last. Research indicates that maintaining bonds with a deceased loved one can be positive and it can help to continue to talk about, remember the person and keep them in mind. Counselling can give you the opportunity to be heard, time to talk, cry, feel or express anger or gain new perspectives. It may be a relief to talk to someone without being interrupted. Counselling can assist you to clarify your feelings and ease the confusion as well as put your thoughts in order.

This organisation offers information and support groups for those who have lost a loved one. http://www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk/

This information is only general and is not a substitute for a professional consultation.

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