Counseling & Coaching
They say that when you grieve, you deny the reality of the situation. This isn’t happening, this can’t be happening. You also feel extremely angry. You direct this anger at your loved ones, maybe even the person you’ve lost. How could you do this to me? How could you leave…
Click here to schedule online counseling at Thriveworks. Hi, I’m Greg Handel, I’m a psychologist at both Thriveworks Franklin and Thriveworks Amherst in Massachusetts. And the question that I have is, “How long does it take to grieve the loss of a loved one?” And this is a question I…
Despite the popular notion that humor is inappropriate during difficult times, humor and laughter can actually help us cope with tough losses. Looking for the humor and turning to laughter enables us to put the loss or the moment into perspective. If you’re grieving the loss of a loved one,…
On Monday, April 15, the Notre Dame Cathedral—a staple of Paris—caught fire and collapsed, leaving many to grapple with difficult feelings that come with grief and loss. While some think of grief as a consequence of death, the reality is that we can experience grief after losing anything of importance….
A common effect of grief on one’s physical health is a loss of appetite and, in turn, significant (or at least mild) weight loss. This change in appetite often comes with other changes in normal functioning; grieving individuals also typically experience an inability to focus, as well as a lack…
In some cases, victims of loss aren’t overwhelmed with difficult emotions, but feel emotionally numb instead. This is a normal reaction, which typically occurs when someone loses someone or something suddenly and unexpectedly. Still, it’s important for these individuals to make sure they grieve well—of which involves understanding and processing…
Losing a loved one is always difficult, but there is a more severe form of grief—called complicated grief—which makes it hard for an individual to ever move forward with life. Complicated grief is marked by debilitating feelings that don’t resolve or improve with time; instead, they can haunt an individual…
Instead of “getting over” or “moving on” from grief, you should take the necessary time and care to process the loss that you have experienced. While grief does lessen in intensity with time, it never truly goes away… as you’ll never forget that person you lost and the impact they…
While the two often blur together, there is a difference between grief and depression. Technically speaking, bereavement (loss and grief) can last for up to 6 months before it turns into a diagnoseable depression. That being said, the grieving process does oftentimes last longer than 6 months—still, you should watch…
Losing a loved one is dreadfully painful, but there is a flip side to every coin. In this case: there is much to learn from those tough losses. First, it can change the way you live your very life—it might dawn on you that you should live happier, or kinder,…
Losing a loved one is nothing short of devastating, but there is a lot of good to focus on during this time, which can help you come to terms with the loss. First, take this opportunity to learn a greater compassion for others (and thyself)—recognize their struggles, and also observe…
Grief can unfold differently for each individual mourning a difficult loss, but a common emotion that arises is anger. If you feel angry after losing a loved one, you should first ask yourself where that anger might stem from: are you angry at the situation, the person, maybe a spiritual…