“Grief is not a disorder, a disease, or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical and spiritual necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve.” -Earl Grollman
There is little that can compare to the pain of losing a loved one. The aftermath of a loss is often times so wrought with emotions, it feels like you’re drowning. Other times, there is a stark emptiness where feeling once lived, a hollowness that you aren’t sure will ever be filled. One thing is for certain: you don’t think anything will be the same again.
Grief is different for everyone who experiences it. Losing anyone who you held a relationship with can cause a painful bout of grief- a friend, coworker, spouse, or family member. Although this experience is painful and even traumatic, you don’t have to go through it alone. Thriveworks Decatur has counselors who understand your grief and are ready to walk alongside you as you grieve and heal.
What Is Grief and Loss Therapy?
Life and death are natural cycles, and grieving is a healthy part of that cycle. But sometimes, the loss can be overbearing, and healthy grieving turns corrupt. When this happens, having a professional, unbiased companion to turn to can be immensely healing. Decatur counselors are here for that purpose.
There are 5 commonly accepted stages of grief, although how you experience each stage varies widely.
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
We know those don’t always paint the grieving person is a good light. But we want to stress that there is nothing wrong or weak with feeling angry about the passing of a loved one or experiencing depression while you mourn. You lost someone who held meaning in your life- grieving is a healthy stage where you can honor their memory and adjust to them not being there.
Easier said than done, of course. It’s the adjustment that many people find themselves stumbling with. They’ll be progressing through the stages of grief, and suddenly find themselves unable to move on. Perhaps they still can’t quite believe their loved one is gone, or have found themselves in a depressive funk for weeks now. This often times prevents full healing from taking place, and the negative consequences can be seen in all areas of life.
Once again, it’s ok to grieve and to get stuck. There is nothing wrong with a little professional support.
The main focus of a grief counseling session at Thriveworks Decatur will be to move you to the acceptance stage- where you can continue living your best possible life. Our counselors want you to honor and treasure the life of your loved one. By no means do we expect or want you to forget them!
To accomplish this, there are many strategies we can use. Some include:
- Art and music therapy
- Exercise therapy
- Adapting to a new role
- Managing changes in behavior or schedule
- Developing new relationships or rekindling old ones with friends and family
- Cultivating a new way of life if necessary
- Talk therapy
Thriveworks Decatur practices a client-first directive. This means we will do whatever is best for your unique situation and personality. And we strive to create a partnership- we want to walk beside you towards the life you have imagined for yourself.
Do I Need Grief Therapy?
Grieving will always hurt—no matter who you lost or if you find yourself stuck on a stage of grief. So how can you tell when the pain you feel is normal and when it is time to reach out?
That’s a difficult question, and it takes courage to even ask it. The simple answer is: are you happy with your life? If not, Thriveworks Decatur is here for you. The magnitude of your emotions or impairment does not determine if you should seek counseling or not. We want to support you no matter what your experience, and offer our professional guidance to lead you to a place you do want to be.
Still, there are some common signs that might mean your grief is getting out of hand, and it would be good to reach out. Some signs include:
- Suicidal Thoughts
- Unrelentless depression
- Inability to find joy in activities and people you previously did
- A small or weak support system
- Avoiding friends or family
- Fear or apprehension over forming new relationships
- Numbness of emotion
- Finding more things to keep yourself busy and distracted
- Sudden changes in behavior (like anger, sleep, or eating patterns)
- Inability to move on
Since the grieving process itself is so unique and diverse, it can be hard to know when to call a professional. Thriveworks Decatur’s therapists are here for you when you are ready.
