The grieving process generally follows a recognizable pattern. It often begins with a brief period of shock that comes after learning about the loss. There may then be a period of denial during which there is a problem believing that there has been or will be a loss. In many cases, the emotions of anger follow the period of denial as one comes to recognize that a loss has occurred. Acceptance happens as one begins to understand and release the feelings of grief and truly accept what has happened. Often the period of coming to acceptance is a challenging one. This is because the denial no longer acts as a temporary shield from the pain of loss. However, this experience is necessary before one is able to move beyond the strong emotions of loss and grief.
Each survivor’s experience with grief and loss is different. A survivor may have all, many, or only a few of the following types of feelings and reactions, and they may be experienced in any order. These types of feelings can be low-key, intense, frequent, or infrequent. Common signs of grief include:
Strong feelings:
- Sadness, despair
- Emotional numbness
- Anger, general irritation
- Guilt
- Fear
- Anxiety
Bodily reactions:
- Crying
- Lack of energy
- Changes in eating or sleeping patterns
- Feeling generally “under the weather”
Changes in behaviors:
- Withdrawal
- Lessened productivity
- Hyperactivity
- Increased need for reassurance
- Changes in sexual patterns (more or less)
- Attention getting
- Aggressive behavior such as being demanding or physically aggressive
Changes in thinking:
- Avoiding or denying the loss
- Lowered self-esteem
- Not being able to pay attention or concentrate
- Thinking about the loss almost all of the time
- Idealizing the past or future
Knowing that these kinds of grief responses are common can help you understand your situation better. With time, grief responses usually become less intense, last a shorter period of time, and happen less frequently. However, you should talk to your healthcare team about any physical and long-term emotional symptoms that do not go away. The grieving process can bring problems if you begin feeling confused or overwhelmed. If this happens, ask your doctor to refer you to a licensed counselor who has experience helping survivors with the grieving process.
The grieving process generally follows a recognizable pattern. It
often begins with a brief period of shock that comes after learning
about the loss. There may then be a period of denial during which
there is a problem believing that there...
More
LIVESTRONG answered:The grieving process generally follows a recognizable pattern. It often begins with a brief period of shock that comes after learning about the loss. There may then be a period of denial during which there is a problem believing that there has been or will be a loss. In many cases, the emotions of anger follow the period of denial as one comes to recognize that a loss has occurred. Acceptance happens as one begins to understand and release the feelings of grief and truly accept what has happened. Often the period of coming to acceptance is a challenging one. This is because the denial no longer acts as a temporary shield from the pain of loss. However, this experience is necessary before one is able to move beyond the strong emotions of loss and grief.
