Stress
GRIEF / LOSS
What is grief?
Grief is the process and range of emotions we go through when we have lost something or someone that we love or are attached to.
For example, you may have lost:
People - through someone dying (bereavement) or the end of a relationship.
Places - moving to another country, changing schools or losing a house.
Health – due to an illness or accident
Your place in the world – losing or leaving a job or team, for example.
Something you own – lost through theft, accident, natural disaster, war
Pets
Grief can be a very painful process. You might have all kinds of emotions and physical reactions. You may feel you will never recover from the loss, or that you don’t know how you are going to carry on.
Signs of grief
Some of the things you may notice are:
Shock and numbness – this is usually the first reaction to loss, and people often talk about "being in a daze".
Overwhelming sadness, with lots of crying.
Tiredness or exhaustion.
Anger – towards the person you've lost or the reason for your loss.
Guilt – for example, guilt about feeling angry, about something you said or did not say, or not being able to stop your loved one dying.
Fear – After a significant loss, you may feel anxious, scared, helpless, or insecure. If you have lost a loved one, you may worry about how you can manage on your own without them.
Physical symptoms – We often think of grief as an emotional process, but it can contribute to physical problems, including fatigue, nausea, weight loss or weight gain, aches and pains, or sleep changes (sleeping less or more than usual).
These feelings may not be there all the time and powerful feelings may appear unexpectedly.
It's not always easy to recognise when bereavement, grief or loss are the reason you're acting or feeling differently.
Signs that you might need further support
It’s important to remember that almost every feeling you have when you first suffer a loss is normal. However, if you do not notice some changes in your grief after some time, or you don’t feel as though you can handle things on your own, you should consider speaking to your GP (doctor).
It’s especially important to seek help if you:
feel like life isn’t worth living
wish you had died with your loved one
are having difficulty trusting others since your loss
are unable to perform your normal daily activities
are unable to care for your children or dependants
are using alcohol or other drugs excessively
are unable to do self-care tasks, such as showering or preparing meals
have had a breakdown of relationships with those close to you.
Where can I get further support?
Your GP may be able to help by suggesting support and treatment options.
