Losing some important is something most of us will experience at some stage in our lives. Grief can be a dramatic emotion and it can be difficult to adjust to the changes that the loss of a loved one brings. Bereavement is the time we spend adjusting to this ; grief affects everyone differently and there is no right or wrong way to feel or cope.
People can experience grief in different ways; in some cases, anger is the prevalent emotion while others may feel entirely numb. Grief can also sometimes be a trigger for more serious mental health issues such as depression. It is important to remember that a bereavement is a life-changing event. It will take time to come to terms with the loss of a loved one and also to reshape our own lives which have been irrevocably changed. The bereavement period is one of adjustment, finding a way to accept what has happened and eventually rebuilding a life that will be very different.
Whilst each individual experience is different, there are some key stages of the bereavement process that everyone will go through. Even when the death of a loved one is expected, it is still always shocking. It is important to take the time to acknowledge the loss, to accept what has happened and to express the pain that this brings. Only then are we able to adjust to a life that is missing someone important and in time move on to the future. There is no right or wrong way to go through this process and there is no right or wrong length of time that each stage takes.
Talking to a counsellor can help a grieving person express their feelings in a way that they might not feel able to do with other friends or family members.