Grief Series 1

“There is sadness in tears, they are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues.  They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.“

–Washington Irving

Grief encompasses the range of unpleasant emotions that occur after a loss. Grief is most associated with death, but many other types of loss can result in differing levels of grief. It can be a strong and overwhelming emotion. You can feel numb and separated from your daily life.  This can feel especially painful when you have lost a parent unexpectedly.

Everyone can understand this natural reaction to great loss, yet the experience is also uniquely personal. No one else can fully understand how you feel and how the loss has affected you.   I know a few people who lost their moms.  I was sympathetic but, if I am honest, I could not know how painful that was until I lost my own mother.  Losing my mom gave me a new perspective on grief.

These sad events are some of the types of loss that can cause grief:  This is not a definitive list.

• Death of a loved one (Child, parent, friend, pet, etc.)
• Divorce or breakup- This includes separation from employment
• Miscarriage- Acutely felt by many women praying to start or build a family
• Serious illness or disability- Loss of the ability to engage in activities that made you happy

The process of grieving can’t be completely controlled. The process can take months, or even years, to pass. Fortunately, though, the pain tends to lessen over time as your life adapts to your new circumstances.  One caveat is that you must move through the grief.  It cannot be put off until later.

Loss and grief are inevitable. It’s part of life to suffer loss from time to time. Grief can occur at any age. Regardless of age, grief is an emotionally painful part of life. Next Grief Series 2.