Grief is a powerful emotion. When people lose someone or something they love, grief can overwhelm them. Although every human being will experience grief at some point in life, it can still be a crippling experience. Kellie and Tom know from experience…
Kellie lost her mother last year. She passed away suddenly. One day, Kellie had her mother. The next day, she did not. Kellie not only lost her mother, she lost her oldest friend. No one else in Kellie’s life has known her so long or loved her so well as her mother did. Now, Kellie thinks about her mother constantly, so much so that everyday functioning has become harder. She is also having trouble sleeping and often wakes up after vivid dreams. What Kellie wouldn’t give for one more conversation!
Tom lost his job a few months ago. He was laid off after working over 25 years for his company. He still talks to his coworkers on occasion, but it’s not the same as when they worked together. Tom found a new job, but he is underemployed and now finds work boring. Most nights, he only has energy to zone out in front of the TV.
Do Kellie’s or Tom’s experiences sound familiar? Have you experienced a loss and grief? If so, know that you are not alone. Grief is a common reaction to loss and a normal human process.
While grief is normal, it is not easy. Losing someone or something you love can be only of life’s most painful experiences, and many people find the help they need during bereavement through grief counseling.
Grief therapy at Thriveworks North Little Rock, AR has helped many people mourn in a health way after they have experienced loss. Thriveworks Maumelle, AR grief counselors have extensive training in leading their clients through the challenges that loss brings and in helping them rebuild a new normal.
What Triggers Grief?
A loss of any kind can trigger grief. Most people associate grieving and mourning with the death of a loved one—family or friend. Losing a person may be the most severe form of loss, but people also experience grief after losing objects they value. Homeowners will likely feel grief if a fire were to destroy their home, and pet owners often grieve the death of a pet.
No list could contain every occasion that might trigger grief, but often, people pursue grief therapy after or during…
- Chronic pain or health challenges
- A loved one dies
- A dear pet has passed
- Loss of a home
- Loss of a job
- Divorce
- A temporary or permanent disability
- A natural disaster
Grief Is Varied and Complex
Everybody experiences grief in their own unique way. There is no normal way to feel grief after a loss. Grief can often feel like varied and complex emotions, depending upon the type of loss. Grief may feel like relief, but it may also feel like intense sadness, physically weighing a person down. Grief may feel like apathy, but it can also feel like hot anger.
Just as grief comes with varied emotions, bereavement also often comes with a variety of mental health challenges. Anyone experiencing grief may also be experiencing …
- Trouble focusing
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability and moodiness
- Angry outbursts
- Severe and sudden bouts of crying
- Panic
- Isolation and loneliness
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Physically painful sadness
Does anything on this list resonate with your experience? If so, you may be grieving. And you are not alone. Many people who are mourning a loss find the help they need through grief therapy.
Grief Therapy
People experience grief in many different ways, but one thing is usually the same: loss and grief signal that something in life has changed forever. Understanding and acquiescing to a new reality may be one of life’s biggest challenges. Grief therapists often provide the support people need during grief’s painful season.
What does grief counseling involve?
Because grief is unique to each person, so is grief counseling. The therapists at Thriveworks North Little Rock, AR tailor a treatment plan to address each client’s needs and goals. However, generally speaking, grief therapy has two main goals:
- Understanding the loss: The complex feelings that accompany a loss need to be processes and understood. Moving forward often means looking back to the loss, its significance, and the feelings it has stirred. Grief therapists often help people understand their depression, relief, anger, sadness, regret (and more) so that they can move through them toward a new reality.
- Acquiescing to a new reality: A severe part of loss is its conclusiveness. A loved one who has passed will not return. A home that has been moved away from can almost never be returned to. Almost everyone would turn back time if they could, even though they know it is impossible. A better way forward is acquiescing to the new reality. With support and guidance, many people find happiness and purpose in their life again.
Scheduling a Grief Therapy Session
We know that grief makes everything in life harder, so at Thriveworks Maumelle, we have done what we can to make asking for help easier. Are you struggling with a loss? Our therapists are here to help.
Thriveworks Maumelle counselors care for each client with compassion and professionalism. We have grief therapy appointments available.
We will never put you on a waitlist. We also accept most insurance providers.
You do not have to grieve alone. Call to schedule your appointment for grief therapy.
