Grief & Loss Counselling & Therapy
Losing someone or something you love can be devastating and coping with it whilst continuing with normal life can be a challenge. You naturally respond to your loss with grief, which involves experiencing difficult emotions.
Typically, the more significant your loss is to you, the more intense your grief will be. Sometimes, grief does not ease with time and people cannot find it in them to accept their loss.
We sometimes think of grief as only associated with the death of a loved one. However, several other losses may also cause grief.
Common causes of grief
The loss of anything that you deem important for you can cause feelings of grief, which may include:
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A divorce or relationship breakup
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Loss of a job
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Death of a pet
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Loss of a cherished dream
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Loss of a friendship
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Health loss
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Serious illness of a loved one
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Loss of financial stability
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Retirement
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A miscarriage
Identifying the signs and symptoms of grief
For a person who is dealing with grief, it is normal to experience some of these symptoms in the days and weeks after a traumatic event:
Emotional
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Deep sadness
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Preoccupation with the loss
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Irritability
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Numbness
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Bitterness
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Inability to experience or show joy
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Detachment from others and activities you used to enjoy
Physical
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Fatigue
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Headaches
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Digestive problems
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Sore muscles
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Chest pain
The effects of grief / loss
The effects of grief can be both short-term and long-term. Short-term effects usually include a lack of desire to attend social gatherings and an inability to go to school or work.
With significant losses, this is quite normal and often lessens with time. On the other hand, long-term, chronic grief can be more serious in nature and may impact on your life in many spheres in a significant way.
Regardless of the symptoms and effects that you experience, it is important for you to seek treatment for grief symptoms that remain for a long time because when left untreated, grief may impact physical, mental, relationship and occupational functioning.
Furthermore, sometimes it is helpful to talk about the grief you experience when it is still acute and intense. This can help you make sense of the loss, get the much-needed comfort from a trained professional that you require, and grow to hopefully a stronger and better version of yourself.
Working through grief / loss
While you are working through grief, it is helpful to be able to talk to someone about your loss when you need to. Hence, the support of friends and family is crucial.
Moreover, take good care of yourself, try to manage stress, and do things you enjoy even if you do not feel like it. Take time to grieve and cry, but try not to isolate yourself.
For friends who don’t know how to support a grieving loved one, remember that just being there or making a cup of tea or simple meals can be invaluable, even if you don’t know what to say.
If you struggle with grief symptoms that seem just too hard to bear, you might want to seek help from a professional grief Psychologist Adelaide. A grief Psychologist can help you explore your emotions and teach you helpful coping skills and grief management strategies.
When you are grieving, it is important to understand your emotions and take care of yourself to heal for good, instead of looking for temporary escapes.
Grief & Loss Counselling & Therapy | Adelaide Psychology Clinic
At Kensington Psychology & Well-Being, we are an expert team of Adelaide Psychologists who are trained to provide grief counselling. Our counselling is compassionate and kind, and aimed at helping you heal from the pain so you can feel ready to enjoy a meaningful and joyful life again.
Adelaide Psychologist & Therapist | Grief & Loss therapy & counselling
Get in touch with us
We offer a comprehensive range of services to treat and nurture the body and mind and get you back on the path to health and well-being.
If you’re ready to reach out to the Kensington Psychology & Well-Being team regarding our services, please get in touch by calling us on 08 7006 5225 or via our Online Contact Form.