Unfortunately, at some point in our lives, we will lose someone close to us. Whether it is a family member, friend, or beloved pet, this type of loss can be overwhelming and hard to navigate. You can’t really prepare for it. It is painful. It is confusing. It can feel like you are reaching out into the dark, hoping to grab a hold of some form of relief. Despite these feelings, it is important to work through your emotions and head back towards a state of happiness.
The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again, but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor should you want to. – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Grief can feel very isolating. However, Thriveworks Edison Therapy grief counseling wants you to know that you do not have to do it alone. We have licensed therapists who understand the way grieving works, as well as how difficult it can be to overcome it. If you need help healing from mourning any type of loss, we are here to support you.
Grieving: What Is Normal and What Can Be Expected?
Grieving, mourning, bereavement, heartbreak. There are several different stages of the feelings we have and the challenges we experience following a loss. These stages tend to follow a predictable pattern, and each plays an important role in helping you come to a place of peace and acceptance. The five different stages and what you can expect from them are:
- Shock and Denial: This stage is characterized by fear, confusion, and avoidance. Typically, the person being affected by this type of news doesn’t want to accept the reality of their loss and does what they can to avoid it.
- Anger: Anger is the next common emotion to feel and is characterized by irritation and frustration. During this stage, someone might feel so angry over their loss that they start to lash out at others such as family members and friends.
- Bargaining: At this point in the grieving process, you might start to seek a way to avoid the loss from happening. You may feel like there is something you can do to reverse what has happened.
- Depression: This is when reality really begins to settle in. Feelings of overwhelming sadness, hopelessness, and helplessness emerge. This can be an especially difficult stage to conquer but with the support of friends, family, and a counselor, you can move into the final stage of grieving.
- Acceptance: Finally, in the last stage of grieving, you will start to feel acceptance. This is when your situation is acknowledged, and you are now ready to focus on moving forward.
Although you now know the breakdown of emotions you may feel going through heartbreak, it’s not as easy to actually go through it alone. That’s why we are here! When someone starts to feel stuck in one of the stages without the ability to allow themselves to move on, it can start to have some negative effects on their mental wellbeing. You may start to lose motivation, feel like you can’t get out of bed. When full healing can’t take place, it starts to affect all areas of life. If you feel like you may be stuck, or just need some guidance along the way, Thriveworks Edison Therapy has the tools and resources to assist you.
Do I Need Grief Therapy?
It takes courage and reflection to be able to ask yourself this question. There’s no simple yes or no answer. It’s important to reflect on your emotions and ask yourself if you are happy with where you are. Whether your emotions are overwhelmingly hard to handle or there just enough to remind you of the past, any person dealing with a loss could benefit from grief therapy. There are several different emotions you could potentially be feeling that may be best to talk to a therapist about including:
- Depression that seems like it won’t go away
- Suicidal thoughts
- Little to no support system
- Lack of joy in activities that you previously enjoyed
- Sudden mood swings or changes in your behavior
- Inability to move or get out of bed
- Pushing your friends or family away
- Lack or numbness of emotion
- Fear of welcoming new people into your life
If you have any of these feelings, or feelings similar to these, you may benefit from speaking with a grief therapist. Thriveworks Edison Therapy has a team of psychologists with the experience, tools, and compassion needed to help you work through whatever you are feeling. Their goal is to provide you with support and guidance on your road to finding happiness again.
Schedule an Appointment with a Grief Therapist at Thriveworks Edison, NJ
You don’t have to be just grieving the loss of someone in order to have these feelings. Even the loss of a job, a broken friendship, or breakup can evoke these feelings of grief. Whatever your situation may be, we want to provide you with the care you need.
If you are ready to take the next step towards finding peace, schedule an appointment with us through our online booking portal or by calling the office to be connected with one of our scheduling specialists. For your convenience, we also offer online counseling sessions that can be held from the comfort of your own home. When you are ready, we will be here.
