Grieving PHYSIC AL What is Grief? exhaustion Grief describes a range of emotional headaches responses we can experience through the loss of someone or something that has nausea signifi meaning in change in sexual interest our lives.We may experience sadness, anger, muscular aches anxiety and guilt, in no particular order, and with varying intensity. EMOTIONAL While grief is common to everyone, our particular family behaviour, gender, culture, sadness age, previous experience and other factors disbelief will shape the way we personally experience grief. It will guilt also infl how we handle situations. despair loneliness THERE ARE FOUR IMPORTANT PARTS TO GRIEVING: COGNITIVE Facing the reality of the loss forgetfulness Allowing ourselves to experience the lack of concentration pain of the loss confusion Finding new ways to live meaningfully poor memory without our loved one’s physical presence (although you can always BEHAVIOURAL retain a sense of the presence of the disturbed sleep spirit of your loved one) changes in appetite Reinvesting emotional energy back social withdrawal into life again crying What Does Grief Look Like? vivid dreams about the person who has died 15
Grieving What is Grief? Grief describes a range of emotional responses we can experience through the loss of someone or something that has signifi meaning in our lives.We may experience sadness, anger, anxiety and guilt, in no particular order, and with varying intensity. While grief is common to everyone, our particular family behaviour, gender, culture, age, previous experience and other factors will shape the way we personally experience grief. It will also infl how we handle situations. THERE ARE FOUR IMPORTANT PARTS TO GRIEVING: Facing the reality of the loss Allowing ourselves to experience the pain of the loss Finding new ways to live meaningfully without our loved one’s physical presence (although you can always retain a sense of the presence of the spirit of your loved one) Reinvesting emotional energy back into life again What Does Grief Look Like? PHYSIC AL exhaustion headaches nausea change in sexual interest muscular aches EMOTIONAL sadness disbelief guilt despair loneliness COGNITIVE forgetfulness lack of concentration confusion poor memory BEHAVIOURAL disturbed sleep changes in appetite social withdrawal crying vivid dreams about the person who has died 15
DHHS_Sudden_Loss_Kit_Booklet_v3.docx