Grief & Loss
Grief is a normal and natural response to loss. It is a universal experience. Grief and loss are most commonly felt when there is a death of a loved one or friend. They are also felt when someone loses a meaningful and intimate relationship through divorce or separation. Many times, significant life or work changes contain elements of loss that can be very powerful as well. Events such as downsizing, reduction-in-force, mergers, and even promotions can result in some grief-like symptoms.
Reactions to grief and loss are as different as the people who experience them; there is no right way to grieve. Grief may be responsible for physical symptoms such as insomnia, appetite changes, malaise, or actual illness. Grief can affect our perception—the way we see ourselves and others and the way we make decisions. We may find it difficult to think clearly and feel a sense of confusion.
Grief may prompt some to withdraw from life and push others to stay too busy to feel. It is important to maintain contact with friends and family during this time. Contact with others who are experiencing the loss can help one to move through the grief process. Just about every emotion can be part of the grief reaction: fear, anger, peace, despair, guilt, agitation, and a seemingly bottomless sorrow may all be experienced after a loss.
Symptoms
The symptoms of grieving can look and feel similar to depression. They may include insomnia, poor appetite, and weight loss for some people. Others may sleep excessively or overeat as a means of coping with the loss. If your symptoms persist for two months or more, professional assistance is recommended.
Stages of Grief
The experience of grief is often described as happening in five stages: Shock, Denial, Bargaining and Self-Blaming, Anger and Anxiety, and Acceptance.
Shock occurs in the first hours after a loss is experienced and has various physical symptoms as shortness of breath, tightness in the throat, a need to sigh, muscular limpness, and loss of appetite. As the shock abates, the physical symptoms lose their intensity and we begin to absorb reality. If there is a persistent wish during grief, it is that the loss could be reversed.
Denial allows for the slow assimilation of the loss. At first, there is often the feeling that a mistake has been made or that the person will walk through the door any minute. As time passes and preparation for change or for the funeral begins, reality is faced.
Bargaining and self blaming requires a greater level of acknowledgment that the loss has occurred, but resistance lingers to the extent that we attempt to make deals to reverse fate. There is a litany of "I should haves," such as, "I should have paid more attention, said something positive, been more patient, etc."
Anger and anxiety are emotional signals that our psychological equilibrium is out of sync. A loss stirs feelings of rejection and powerlessness that lead to feeling anxious. In the first hours or days, feeling restless and unable to sleep is common. Anger at the loss, the one who is gone, or the people who made the decision, are all normal reactions to loss. Anger often causes anxiety as it is an emotion with which many are uncomfortable. In reality, anger is a healthy indication that we are beginning to accept the facts.
Acceptance occurs with time. The realization sets in that the situation is not going to be the same as before, or that the person is not going to return and there is nothing that could have been done to change the outcome. There will be moments when a return to any or all of the stages occurs, yet accepting the loss allows us to move forward in the grief process.
There is no exact order, scale, or time limit for these emotions. But if you feel that there is no relief, seeking assistance from a counselor can be helpful in putting your grief reaction into perspective.
For free, confidential counseling or more ideas on how to manage grief and loss, contact your employee assistance program:
- UMHS Employees:
contact the Employee Assistance Program - Campus employees:
contact the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program
