“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
—Winnie the Pooh
Grief & Loss
Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences a human can have.
Grief is heavy, if not debilitating and can come from any experience of loss including a break-up, death of a family member or friend, the passing of a pet, a miscarriage, or walking with someone through terminal illness.
No matter what the circumstances, living without something that previously held meaning in our lives is painful and most people benefit from having some extra support and guidance.
Sometimes seeking support is the best way through!
In the initial aftermath of a loss, many of us are fortunate to have friends and family members we can lean on. As time passes, people often return back to “life as usual,” which can leave those closest to the loss feeling isolated and alone.
Grief doesn’t follow the “three days of bereavement” timeline and it can be an absolute battle to put one foot in front of the other. Asking for ongoing support, worrying about burdening others with prolonged sadness, and encountering invalidation from those who don’t quite understand (despite the best intentions) can compound grief and interfere with basic functioning.
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ Five Stages of Grief
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Denial
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Anger
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Bargaining
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Depression
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Acceptance
Moving through the stages of grief is not necessarily a linear process. Additionally, individuals do not necessarily experience all five. We do know that these are the 5 most commonly observed in people moving through grief and loss. It is not always easy for us to understand what is happening through the grieving process, how to make sense of our experiences, and how to cope most effectively.
Therapists on staff at Evidence Based Therapy Partners are experienced in supporting patients through experiences of loss, helping patients confront grief, and giving them the tools to cope and engage in building and maintaining a valued life.
For more information about treatment for grief and loss
or to schedule an appointment, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
“The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you’ll learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to.”
—Elisabeth Kubler-Ross & David Kessler