Are we grieving?
Grief is described as " .... the natural reaction to loss. Grief is both a universal and a personal experience. Individual experiences of grief vary and are influenced by the nature of the loss. Some examples of loss include the death of a loved one, the ending of an important relationship, job loss, loss through theft or the loss of independence through disability."
What have we lost?
Life as we know it. A job. A relationship. The ability to interact with friends and extended family. And, some might say, our freedom. What things do you think, we as a culture have lost?
I don't think many of us have thought about the emotional ramifications of what is going on in the world today. We are focused on just getting by financially, staying healthy, and managing our new life as we know it. I don't think we have had time to even think about the emotional part.
I am going through the stages of grief. Most of the time we hear this-DENIAL, ANGER, BARGAINING, DEPRESSION & ACCEPTANCE. And, here is another-SHOCK AND DENIAL, PAIN & GUILT, ANGER & BARGAINING, DEPRESSION, REFLECTION, & LONELINESS, THE UPWARD TURN, RECONSTRUCTION & WORKING THROUGH, ACCEPTANCE & HOPE.
Do you find yourself feeling any of those feelings, or going through these stages?
And, if so, what can we do about it?
Most of the time, we think of going through these stages when we lose a person in our life, but there are many other kinds of losses, just like the ones I mentioned above. I think it is very important for everyone to go through these stages because we have suffered loss. All of us in some form or another. Working through the stages and acknowledging the emotions we feel is healthy and helps us move toward a more positive, healthy life amidst very challenging circumstances.
So, take time to think and feel. If you need assistance, contact a local mental health care provider. And, read a few helpful articles like the 5 STAGES OF GRIEF AND LOSS over at Psych Central. I am certainly not a mental health provider, but I am a human and feel all kinds of emotions, have been through a lot of loss and trauma, and am somewhat in tune with things like this.
Staying healthy in body, mind, and spirit is important, and working through our anger and the other stages of grief is worth it.
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