Grief and Loss

Most often grief is associated with the death of a loved one, but grief and a deep sense of loss can also be experienced or triggered by other significant life events, such as the ending of a relationship, children moving away, retirement, relocating to a new home or area and even the loss of a beloved pet

The experience of loss can have a profound impact on an individual's emotional, physical, psychological, social and even spiritual wellbeing, but It is important to know that grief is a normal experience that needs to be acknowledged and processed. We all experience and process grief and loss differently, in a way that is congruent with who we are - our uniqueness

Mourning is the vehicle through which we process and understand our grief.

During this time be careful not to disconnect from others or your emotions. The wound will heal over time and the pain become more bearable, the scar of loss might remain as a reminder of that what was lost and in a sense rightly so - although our relationship with the loved has changed it still needs to be honored and remembered once in while.

Julie Smith (2017), identifies 8 pillars of strength to enable us to work through our grief and loss:

Find new ways to remember, honor and celebrate the person you have lost - you may consider lighting a candle on significant days;
Take care of yourself physically and emotionally, do not suppress your feelings;
Express your grief, talking to a dear friend or a counsellor can be greatly beneficial;
Take care of yourself physically - healthy diet, moderate exercise and enough sleep. Maintaining structure and routine can be very helpful in this regard.
Stay connected with family and friends, they may be mourning the loss as well.
When an individual experiences greater awareness of the grief and accompanying emotions, they will be able to identify coping mechanisms that may not be constructive and be in a better position to find more constructive means and also set healthy boundaries of what one is able to do and cope with during this time of grief;
During this process of mourning we need to understand and accept our vulnerability and that more flexibility and compassion towards ourselves are required