Grief is a natural and normal response to a significant loss, especially if such a loss is life changing.  The death of a loved one, the loss of a career, a beloved pet, a home, retirement, and illness – all of these will result in grief. Grieving is a process that takes time; it is also a process that varies from person to person.

However, although all people experience grief at one point or another, people can also help themselves get past their profound sorrow. No matter how deeply wounded a person is, healing will come. If healing seems to be taking too long, you can make it happen by seeking professional help.

Acknowledging Grief With Help: Bring it to a Close

The irony about grief is this: those who accept their grief usually get past it sooner than those who deny it or put it in the back burner by being “strong”. In order to come to terms with a painful life change, it is necessary to face your feelings and acknowledge the sorrow that comes with your loss. It is normal to remember the bittersweet memories of what has been lost; this is not the same as feeling shadowed by misery.

However, you do need support when you go through this process, otherwise you can get stuck in it. Unfortunately, your family or your friends may be just as devastated as you. Therefore, professional help is the key to getting this support. The shoulder you choose to cry on cannot be attached to a heart that is grieving too.

Talk Therapy: Express your Grief

It is important that you express your grief, even if you are not the “talk-about-it” type. Expressing your pain will help liberate you from it. Again, there is a word of caution regarding this: friends and relatives cannot be your long term sounding board, especially if they are in the same grieving boat as you. Of course you will need to share things with them, but they do not have the emotional distance needed to just listen without reacting to your woe.

The best way is to find a counselor who uses talk therapy so you can channel your grief. A professional counselor can help you talk about your grief and help you achieve healthy catharsis when this is appropriate. An effective therapist can help you release your emotions in a productive way, than keep it under a tight lid.

Don’t Deny Yourself the Help You Need

Unfortunately, grief is not something you can just pack away and be done with. Its intensity comes and goes, and people can find themselves falling into despair and depression while dealing with it. Some well-meaning friends and family members sometimes make things worse with their prescriptions to “get over it” or “move on”, while others may make you feel guilty if you do.

The best way to get past grief is to be good to yourself. Do what it takes to keep healthy, don’t deprive yourself of enjoyment when this is possible, and get professional help. Professional support will help prevent you from falling into depression. It will also provide the assistance you need to explore your feelings and gradually face your future.

Take the First Step

If you or a loved one is experiencing grief, the best way to lighten your burden is to seek professional counseling. The independently contracted counselors at Carolina Counseling Services – Sanford, NC, are highly skilled at assisting people who are grieving. More than that, however, they will provide this assistance with genuine care so that you will indeed find yourself ready to move on.

Related Articles:

• Releasing Yourself from Grief and Trauma with a Counselor
• Grief: Crucial Things You Need to Know
• Getting Help to Bounce Back from Grief and Trauma
• The Healthy Way to Help Children Process Grief
• Staying Strong As a Couple in Times of Grief
• Protecting Your Marriage Against the Impact of Grief
• Easing Teen Grief with Counseling
• A Child in Grief: Bringing Back The Smile
• Putting an End to Grief
• Grieving and Healing as a Family