When faced with loss, individuals react in a variety of ways, including biological, emotional, spiritual and sociological. Age is a significant factor in the response to loss, as is gender and culture. Also, the nature of the loss, its brutality, and the level of support from those around the bereaved are all factors that can aggravate or, on the contrary, facilitate the resolution of grief.
Grief is a broad concept. It encompasses the loss, the sorrow and finally the state in which the bereaved find themselves. In order to cope with the loss of a loved one, one must go through a period of grief that expresses the difficulties of letting go. Gradually, one must revisit all their memories, as well as all the plans and dreams, and accept the permanence of: “Never again.”
Suicide is a social tragedy, little is known about it and much is misunderstood. The stigma surrounding suicide complicates the healing process.
After the initial shock you may feel angry, guilty, and of course, sad. These feelings may overwhelm you all at once, and immediately, or they may surface in the weeks, months, and years ahead. You may handle them well initially only to have them return for no apparent reason. These feelings, and the helplessness that comes with them, will pass. Try to understand and accept the things you feel. It is okay, it is healthy, and it is all part of the healing and coping process.
The death of a spouse is possibly the most devastating experience one can encounter.
The sense of loss and grief is so overwhelming that one may feel split in two, as though a part of themselves has been lost.
It is normal to experience deep sorrow and heartbreak when a spouse dies. When one’s spouse passes you go through the grieving process, from initial shock and disbelief, through waves of deep sorrow and pain, to looking back on memories, feeling regret, and loneliness, perhaps even anger and depression. Eventually, it becomes possible to begin rebuilding one’s life. Joy and happiness are still possible down the road.
Grief is a broad concept. It encompasses the loss, the sorrow and finally the state in which the bereaved find themselves. In order to cope with the loss of a loved one, one must go through a period of grief that expresses the difficulties of letting go. Gradually, one must revisit all their memories, as well as all the plans and dreams, and accept the permanence of: “Never again.”
In the wake of this life-altering event, your hopes, your dreams and your plans for the future are shattered. You are experiencing the greatest grief anyone can experience, one thought by many to exceed all other bereavement experiences. The child you loved and cared for so deeply is gone. No one, including your spouse, will experience this loss exactly as you will. Don’t try to compare your experience or judge how long your grief should last. Instead, live through this experience one day at a time. Your grief is unique.
If someone you care about has lost a loved one, you can help them through the grieving process. However, it is important to remember that your support must be ongoing and lasting because the pain often intensifies a few months after the loss. It is necessary to be present at this time. Keep in mind that each of us tries to do our best, there is no right or wrong way. The important thing is to be there. Be aware that talking, again and again, about what they are going through is essential to the grieving person, and will help them through the healing process.