Grief

Summary • Losses encompass more than death or a person or loss of property • Failure to acknowledge losses can cause unhelpful reactions in similar future situations • It is important to explore feelings and reactions in terms of their functionality---how are they benefitting the person • It takes at least a year to deal with significant losses • Many times there are multiple ancillary losses that need to be addressed • How people deal with grief and loss varies widely. • Grieving is a form of crisis • The body is on high alert which likely impacts sleep, eating and energy to work or socialize • Minimizing vulnerabilities is important to reduce unnecessary frustration and avoid confirming helplessness • Ultimately it is hoped that the person can identify how they are stronger or better off from the experience