Grief & Loss

You might feel some or all of these things:

• Shock
  
  

• Disbelief
  
  

• Pain
  
  

• Intense sadness
  
  

• Longing
  
  

• Anger
  
  

• Resentment
  
  

• Regret
  
  

• Guilt (about the past, or about being happy in the future)
  
  

• Abandonment
  
  

• Anxiety
  
  

• Worry.
   

The combination of any of these feelings might make it feel like you’re in a washing machine and things are out of control. Other times you might only feel one of these emotions, or a numbness that doesn’t feel like anything at all. Sometimes these intense bursts of emotions can last for a long time, other times they can come and go quickly.

When a big change happens in your life it’s hard not to think about it all the time. We also might find that concentrating can be tough, or that our mind wanders and we have trouble focusing.  

Some people find it hard to care as much about the things they normally care about. It can feel like nothing matters compared to the loss they have experienced. Some people think that the world doesn’t make sense anymore, and they can’t figure out their place in it.

Our mind and body are closely connected, so it makes sense that grief can have a big impact on our bodies. You might experience:

• Headaches
  
  

• Stomach aches
  
  

• Body aches
  
  

• Weight changes
  
  

• Changes to your sleep
  
  

• Changes to eating routines
  
  

• Colds
  
  

• Tiredness
  
  

• Generally feeling sick and run down.

You might notice some big changes in the sorts of things you do or don’t do. After a big loss, some people feel like doing a whole lot of nothing. They can have trouble finding the energy to keep up with day-to-day life. They might not want to see their family and friends, or withdraw from doing things they enjoyed. 

Other people find that keeping busy helps them to get through the day.