There are many types of loss, such as loss due to death, declining health, divorce, separation, endings to jobs, changes in roles (such as when a child becomes an adult), or changes in relationships. Grief is a normal, healthy reaction to loss. Grief is the emotional suffering one feels after something or someone is taken away. The more significant the loss, the more intense the grief. Unfortunately, most, if not all, individuals will experience grief at some point in their lives.
While each individual’s experience of grief is unique, there are common stages of grief such as denial, depression, anger, bargaining, and acceptance. Fear and guilt are also commonly associated with grief. The stages of grief are not always linear and individuals may not experience all of the stages. Grief can last for a few months to a few years depending on the significance of the loss.
It is believed that the most important factor in healing from grief is support from others. Grief therapy not only provides support for individuals experiencing grief but it helps individuals to normalize their experience, express their difficult emotions and overcome obstacles for grieving.
