Grief and Loss

Grief has many causes.

Someone you love died, and you feel the weight of the loss and a sense of sadness you have never felt before. The void and emptiness you feel inside are insurmountable. Nobody could understand your grief. People say well-intentioned things like “He/she lived a good long life,” “God needed him/her more,” or “You need to focus on moving forward.” It all feels so wrong and so invalidating. Life will never be the same for you.

A wedding or a young adult attending college are positive and happy events. But where there is change, there are losses to be acknowledged and grieved, such as these young adults leaving the nest for the first time. Others might not understand, as these are “happy” events, but there are associated losses, and everyone is different.

Trauma also brings a tremendous amount of grief. With trauma comes a loss of innocence, trust, stability, and relationships, and the life you had imagined didn’t unfold the way it was supposed to, amongst many other losses.

Perhaps you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. This diagnosis can make it challenging to navigate and, many times, very difficult to talk about and, therefore, cope with. The anticipatory grief you are facing is an opportunity to explore your feelings and wishes and find some peace in the unknown.

Coping with grief is challenging.

Some people you expect to be there for you have gone away because they don’t know what to say or do. The intense raw emotions make them uncomfortable and make them think of their own mortality as well as their loved ones.

You feel like you are circling the drain, unsure how to move forward, and left wondering how you will ever be able to live your life again with this unbearable pain and loss.

“What is this life all about? What is the meaning? Why am I here?” All these existential questions come flooding in.

Everyone grieves differently, and there is no right or wrong way or time limit. However, therapy can help to decrease the intensity of these painful emotions.

Perhaps it’s time for some exploration.

Although everyone processes grief differently, it does present an opportunity to begin exploring the loss and everything that comes with it. You may have specific “stuck points” or things you keep ruminating about, such as guilt or regret, which are involved in the overwhelming sadness.

The good news is that you don’t have to go through this alone! Therapy can help you explore all aspects of your grief with someone who will truly listen and provide a safe place for you to express your pain while helping you explore the meaning of life and death and navigate the many emotions you feel, the anger about why these things happen, and the sadness you feel from the devastating loss.

Consider therapy an opportunity to process all these overwhelming emotions with someone objective and not emotionally involved. Think of this as a time to give yourself the gift of gaining clarity into the painful emotions and explore the things that bring peace and a sense of hopefulness.

Let’s work together to help you move through the grief, regain a sense of control over a situation that feels completely out of control, and find peace and calm in the storm. Please get in touch with me today for more information about my approach to grief and loss.