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Understanding grief and loss approaches many topics and discussions. What is important is to understand that everyone processes grief differently. Grieving is a highly individual experience; there’s no right or wrong way to grieve. How you grieve depends on many factors, including your personality and coping style, your life experience, your faith, and how significant the loss was to you.
Research shows that most people can recover from loss on their own through the passage of time if they have social support and healthy habits. In a time of social distancing this is certainly a challenge however we can provide supports to those who are struggling. The American Psychological Association provides state of the art resources to support individuals experiencing grief and how to cope.
The Coping with Grief and Loss help guide provided by HELPGUIDE.ORG INTERNATIONAL discusses approaches to addressing grief including myths and facts. In 1969, psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross introduced what became known as the “five stages of grief.” These stages of grief were based on her studies of the feelings of patients facing terminal illness, but many people have generalized them to other types of negative life changes and losses, such as the death of a loved one or a break-up.
Psychology Today has resources available to support grief and loss including PTSD, and anticipatory vs. traumatic.
Grief can manifest itself in the form of immense emotional and physical suffering, and we may experience anything from anger to denial, to guilt, to sadness and despair. Initially, people who experience grief may experience confusion, shock, and disbelief that their loved one has passed. However, after the initial shock has passed, highly distressful emotions can contribute to anxiety, extreme fatigue, crying fits, dreams and even nightmares about the deceased.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has compiled multiple resources related to grief and loss and provide support in school and out of school.
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