Notes on Grief

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Notes on Grief Loss
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Grief

• A natural response to any loss or difficult
  change
• Experienced by all people
• Expressed in varying ways

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Types of Losses

• Death of a loved one
• Separation or divorce
• Miscarriage
• Illness, injury, or disability
• Loss of job, property or pet
• Children leaving home (empty nest syndrome)
• Health
• Loss of safety after a traumatic event
• Moving
• Graduation
• Retiring

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• Realize that you will recover grow to be a
  stronger person
• Be a support person to someone else who is
  grieving

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Five Stages of Loss by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
1. Denial deny the loss, have a feeling of
numbness

• 2. Anger feeling of being cheated or treated
  unfairly

3. Bargaining feeling that if you had done
something differently things would be different,
or the take me instead perception
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• 4. Depression - may have little interest in life
  or feeling unable to complete or engage in simple
  tasks

5. Acceptance transition toward life as it has
changed
5 4 3 2 1
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Coping Mechanisms

• Let yourself feel the pain and emotions.
• Be patient with the process
• Crying/Expression of feelings
• Try to maintain your normal lifestyle
• Attend Funeral/Memorial Svc
• Support Groups/People

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• Journals/Letters
• Be artistic
• Rest
• Nutrition
• Plan ahead for grief triggers.

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Comforting the Grieving Person

• Be there physically, call, write, or send
  flowers
• Offer encouragement help them stay active, and
  moving forward in healing
• Help with Daily activities- volunteer to do yard
  work, shopping, errands or housework
• Give reassurance without minimizing the loss

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• Be a good listener
• Help with letters offer to write thank you
  notes or letters to insurance companies
  creditors
• Lend a hand with meals
• Answer the phone

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What to Say

• I'm sorry
• I'm sad for you
• How are you doing with all this?
• I don't know why it happened
• What can I do for you?
• I'm here and I want to listen
• Please tell me what you are feeling
• This must be hard for you

• What's the hardest part for you?
• I'll call you tomorrow (and do it!)
• You must really be hurting
• It isn't fair, is it?
• You must really feel angry
• Take all the time you need
• Thank you for sharing your feelings