Grief and the Impact of Loss in Everyday Life
Grief and therefore bereavement is the natural human reaction to loss - in this case, death. Grief can disrupt your sleep, appetite, energy, and quite frankly, your overall will to live. While the process is completely natural, it can, at times, become stuck - otherwise known as Prolonged Grief Disorder. If our grief feels stuck, it more than likely is stuck. Professional counselling can be one way to help you overcome this feeling of being stuck and move toward healing.
What is Grief Counselling?
Grief is the emotional reaction to loss, in this case, to death. What follows is the process of mourning, that is to say, the process of adjusting to the world in which the person has died. Grief as a process, is chaotic and personal and, at times, incredibly contradictory. It is, however, natural. Ultimately, the process of understanding and coping with grief comes down to a simple reality: we must come to terms with a world that we do not want to be true. A world in which a loved one has died. This process is deeply personal and does not necessarily involve someone who has been alive for very long - such as a parent or grandparent. Often, we make attachments to embryos and mourn the loss of a life that could have been.
How Does Grief Counselling Work?
The process of person-centred grief and bereavement counselling involves elements of exploring you as your are now, the relationship to the person you've lost, and the person you were before this loss took place, as well as who you are now. In this exploration, together, we hope to find the core of your individual identity and furthermore identify with the emotions (as overwhelming as they may seem) and thoughts that relate to this loss. Grief counselling may seem pointless as it cannot bring the person back, however, the essence of grief counselling and thereby living with grief is that we discover two things: you are both fine; and yet, grieving. The process of loss tends to go on in the background of everyday functioning, yet that does not mean that the process cannot become known though grief counselling.
Benefits of Grief Counselling
You do not need to experience bereavement on your own. Loss and isolation go hand-in-hand. There is nothing more isolating than death, and the discussion of death and loss tend to be cultural taboo. Grief counselling can help you overcome grief through self-directed learning and open discussion of the process of bereavement and coping with loss. Support is available to all those experiencing grief. This does not just mean only those relating to loss of human life, indeed, to many of us, the loss of animals affects just as much as that of a person - they were, after all, personalities in their own right. The open discussion of grief and bereavement through professional counselling can diminish the effects of anxiety and depression that arise with death and improve your overall mental health. Speaking to an independent professional counsellor therefore can improve your coping skills and strengthen your relationship with others.
Moving Forward Toward Healing with Grief Counselling
Grief and bereavement are a natural reaction to loss. This process can become stuck. Professional counselling can help you overcome this feeling of being stuck and aid to learn to live well with grief.
If you are struggling with grief, please do not hesitate to contact Oskar at oskarstherapy@outlook.com to arrange bereavement counselling in Aberdeen (virtual or in-person). Taking the first steps to toward healing can be incredibly difficult, but professional help can make a significant difference.
If you are in need or know anyone struggling with grief, share this post with them to make sure they know that they are not alone and that professional help is available. Contact oskarstherapy@outlook.com to arrange counselling sessions in Aberdeen, when in-person, or UK wide virtually.
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