Loss & Grief

Loss is an inevitable part of life and can take many forms. It may be the loss of a person through separation, illness, or death. We may grieve the loss of a cherished companion animal. Via relocation or misfortune, we lose jobs or homes. Change or transitions in life situations can lead to grieving a particular identity or role.

What Are Common Symptoms of Loss and Grief?

Loss can enter our lives as a sudden shock or as a slow, painful shift. A sense of loss might express itself as symptoms of depression or anxiety, loss of motivation, or states of hopelessness. Grief can look like sadness or anger, and can affect our concentration or memory.

If you find yourself struggling after losing someone or something, or are experiencing symptoms of anticipatory grief, working with a therapist can help you to cope with the experience and move forward.

How Can Therapy Help With Loss and Grief?

 Meeting with a therapist to address loss and grief will likely entail:

• Taking the time and space to speak about your loss and how it is affecting you
• Addressing your emotional responsessuch as denial, numbness, regret, or anger because of the loss
• Understanding how your personal historyhas shaped your experience of loss
• Locating internal resources to help you mourn, cope, and move forward
• Helping you maintain or restore current relationships and supports

What Are the Stages of Grief?

The 5 Stages of Grief, originally developed by Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. A 6th stage, Meaning, has since been proposed by David Kessler, one of Kübler-Ross’s literary collaborators.

Further Reading

 For additional resources, the Canadian Mental Health Association offers information on understanding and dealing with loss and grief , and recommendations on helping a friend in a grieving process and coping with one’s own grief.