Is grieving normal?
Receiving the correct guidance and support during the grieving process is of the utmost importance to accept and adapt to one’s loss.
Losing a loved one surely is one of the most traumatic events one can experience.
Receiving the correct guidance and support during the grieving process is of the utmost importance to accept and adapt to one’s loss. As grieving involves intense emotions that could become a concern for the bereaved as well as their support network, it is very important to bear in mind that grieving is a normal process of life.
It is a process that should be encouraged. During the normal grieving process we anticipate intense emotional pain, loneliness, anger, depression, physical symptoms and changes in our interpersonal relationships.
Experiencing these symptoms or witnessing someone displaying them shortly after the death of a loved one should not be a concern – it is normal considering the trauma that needs to be dealt with.
Each individual experiences grief differently depending on personality, background, religious beliefs, relationship with the deceased and cultural environment.
Even though a person might never recover fully from losing a loved one, it is necessary to be able to return to a state of productivity and regain emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.
We therefore want to encourage someone who is grieving to express his or her emotions as much as possible. We should allow tears and even emotional outburst to some degree – this is all part of the healing process and will become less intense during the process of adapting to the changes brought about by losing a loved one.
However misguided ideas around the grieving process, inadequate support networks or previous trauma could complicate the grieving process. This is a discussion to be continued next week.
Once again I would like to invite you to contact me at SandriAppelgryn@gmail.com if you are grieving the loss of someone dear to you and if you are interested in becoming part of a support group.
