Grief is the intense sorrow and emotional distress that arises from the loss of someone or something significant in your life. It is a natural response to loss and can manifest in various physical, emotional, cognitive, and social reactions. The pain of loss can feel overwhelming, and emotions like shock, anger, disbelief, guilt, and profound sadness are common. These feelings can significantly impact one’s mental health.
If you or a loved one are struggling with managing grief, it may be time to seek support from a psychiatrist in San Diego. Providers at Sacred Psychiatric are available to support your mental health needs during this time.
Manifestation of Grief
In 1969, psychiatrist, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross published a book on Death and Dying where she focused on analyzing people with terminal illness, facing their death. This outline on the range of emotions that people typically experience when dealing with loss was then adapted as a way of thinking about grief in general. The stages of grief was broken into the follow components.
Denial
- This stage involves shock and disbelief in the loss.
- Individuals may struggle to accept the loss and can make one feel numb or detached.
- It is noted to be a defense mechanism to help absorb the shock.
Anger
- As the denial stage fades, the reality of the loss emerges.
- This reality then exacerbates feelings of anger and frustration.
- The individual may be angry towards the deceased or themselves and question, “Why did you go? Why did you leave me? Why is this happening to me?
Bargaining
- In this stage, the individual makes an attempt to negotiate deals to reverse the loss.
- Statements such as “what if” and “if only” are common.
Depression
- During this stage, there is profound sadness and despair, a deep sense of emptiness can occur.
Acceptance
- In this final stage, the individual comes to term with the loss, accepting the new reality of the loss.
Of course, each individual experiences grief on their own terms. Not always is grief manifested as described above. If you or a loved one are struggling with the symptoms of grief after a loss, seek mental health services in San Diego for support.
Coping with Grief
Grief is a natural part of the human experience. Understanding it and finding healthy ways to cope can help you navigate the journey of healing and eventually find a new sense of normalcy.
Here are a few strategies to cope with grief:
- Acknowledge your pain: allow yourself to experience the emotions that comes with grief as suppressing them can delay the grieving process.
- Express emotions/practice self-care: consider journaling, creating art, talking about it; practice mindfulness.
- Create rituals and memorials: hold a memorial service, create a memory book, or light a candle in memory of your loved one.
- Find health distractions: engage in hobbies, volunteer as it can provide a sense of purpose.
- Consider professional help: therapy and medications may be warranted.
If grief persists and severely impacts your ability to function in daily life, it may be beneficial to seek professional help. Reaching out to an online psychiatrist is a good place to start!