Monday, February 28, 2011

Death & Grieving

Grieving over a loved one's death can be a very personal process. There is no single, right way to deal with such a hardship that can be suddenly thrust upon a person. Reference books on the grieving process may help people deal with grief and perhaps answer some of their questions.


Grief


Grief can bring about many different feelings both immediately after the death of a loved one and over time. Some of these emotions include denial as to what has happened, shock that the death has occurred, anger over the loss, and sadness. These diverse feelings may be felt separately or together during the grieving process.


Depression


People may feel depressed when dealing with the loss of a loved one. Some people also find themselves feeling guilt because they wonder how this loss will affect them and their individual lives instead of thinking about the loved one who passed away.








Clean and Sober


Some people may find the need to forget about their grief by turning to alcohol. This avenue of relief should not be explored, and heavy drinking should be avoided. Not only can this behavior bring about new problems, it can also lead the person into a deeper depression than grief alone.


No Big Decisions


A person who is grieving should generally not make any big decisions, at least not right away. For example, the sale of a house or a change of career is something that should be put off for a while. It can be a more healthy plan to take things slowly, on a day-by-day basis.


Talking About It


Talking to relatives or other people about feelings a person is experiencing may be helpful. Many support groups exist for all types of loss from the deaths of pets, or relationships, or personal losses. If a person prefers a more one-on-one approach, there are many professionals they can talk with individually.








Acceptance


A grieving person needs to begin to let friends and other relationships back into their lives as soon as they can. Even though they are still feeling the loss, it can be helpful for them to venture out socially with friends. A night out with the girls or boys can be very healthy.


Time of Grief


There is no time limit or schedule for grieving. Depending on the individual person, the grieving process can take anywhere from several months to several years. However, it is commonly believed that the average person can begin to feel better about two months after they experience their loss.

Tags: grieving process, bring about, deal with, person grieving, Some people