Coping with Loss and GriefCoping with Loss and Grief

• Grieving is a common and natural Grieving is a common and natural reaction to any loss that brings on reaction to any loss that brings on strong emotions. strong emotions.

• Acknowledging and understanding Acknowledging and understanding your grief will help you begin the your grief will help you begin the healing process. healing process.

What is Loss?What is Loss?

• Losses may include:Losses may include:– Death of a loved oneDeath of a loved one– Divorce or separation of parentsDivorce or separation of parents– Moving to a new town or new Moving to a new town or new

schoolschool– Separation from a loved oneSeparation from a loved one– Loss or death of a petLoss or death of a pet– Loss or theft of something Loss or theft of something

valuable or specialvaluable or special– Breakup of a romantic relationshipBreakup of a romantic relationship– Loss of jobLoss of job– Loss of a sporting competitionLoss of a sporting competition

• How we Cope with LossHow we Cope with Loss– An individual deals with all types An individual deals with all types

of losses in a normal process.of losses in a normal process.– A broad range of emotions after a A broad range of emotions after a

loss include:loss include:– DenialDenial– AngerAnger– SadnessSadness– Confusion and helplessnessConfusion and helplessness– GuiltGuilt– Insecurity and fearInsecurity and fear

• Eventually we reach the Eventually we reach the acceptance and resolution of the acceptance and resolution of the loss. However, some losses are loss. However, some losses are hard to accept. The idea is to hard to accept. The idea is to incorporate the loss, moving incorporate the loss, moving forward knowing the loss has forward knowing the loss has happened and taking from it what happened and taking from it what we can.we can.

The Grieving ProcessThe Grieving Process

• Swiss-American Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross noted that Kübler-Ross noted that the grieving process the grieving process includes includes stages of stages of griefgrief..

• A variety of reactions that may surface as an individual makes sense of how a loss affects him or her

Denial or Numbness

Emotional Release

Anger

Bargaining

Depression

Remorse

Acceptance

Hope

Stages of Grief

The Grieving ProcessThe Grieving Process

• During theDuring the DenialDenial or Numbnessor Numbness stage stage of grief, it may be of grief, it may be difficult to believe difficult to believe the loss has the loss has occurred.occurred.

• During theDuring the Emotional Emotional ReleaseRelease stage of stage of grief,grief, the loss is the loss is recognized. This recognized. This stage often stage often involves periods of involves periods of crying.crying.

The Grieving ProcessThe Grieving Process

• During theDuring the AngerAnger stage of grief, the stage of grief, the person uses anger person uses anger because he or she because he or she feels powerless feels powerless and unfairly and unfairly deprived.deprived.

• During theDuring the BargainingBargaining stage stage of grief, the reality of grief, the reality of the loss sets in of the loss sets in and the person and the person may promise to may promise to change if what was change if what was lost can be lost can be returned.returned.

The Grieving ProcessThe Grieving Process

• During theDuring the DepressionDepression stage stage of grief, there areof grief, there are feelings of sadness. feelings of sadness. In addition, feelings In addition, feelings of isolation, of isolation, alienation, and alienation, and hopelessness may hopelessness may occur.occur.

• During theDuring the RemorseRemorse stage of stage of grief, the person grief, the person may become may become preoccupied with preoccupied with thoughts about thoughts about how the loss could how the loss could have been have been prevented.prevented.

The Grieving ProcessThe Grieving Process

• During the During the AcceptanceAcceptance stage stage of grief, the person of grief, the person faces the reality of faces the reality of the loss, and the loss, and experiences experiences closureclosure..

• During the During the HopeHope stage of grief, stage of grief, remembering remembering becomes less becomes less painful, and the painful, and the person begins to person begins to look ahead to the look ahead to the future. This stage future. This stage involves involves copingcoping..

Positive Coping StrategiesPositive Coping Strategies

• Be patient. Each Be patient. Each person will go through person will go through the grieving process the grieving process at his or her own pace.at his or her own pace.

• Talk to others.Talk to others.• Ask for help.Ask for help.• Keep up a normal Keep up a normal

routine.routine.• Eat a healthy diet.Eat a healthy diet.• Write in a journal.Write in a journal.

• Get plenty of rest.Get plenty of rest.• Exercise.Exercise.• Participate in Participate in

enjoyable activities.enjoyable activities.• Maintain friendships.Maintain friendships.• Do something nice for Do something nice for

another person.another person.• Practice stress Practice stress

management management techniques.techniques.

• Deep breathing.Deep breathing.• Visualization.Visualization.