The Effects of and Help for Those Who Are Grieving a Loss

August is National Grief Awareness Month and we wanted to take a look at the health issues that can develop from grieving but also a local support group that can help you work through the loss of a loved one.

The ramifications of grief can include depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and physical illness. If you or someone you know experiences any of the following problems, contact a doctor or mental health professional for counseling, medicine, or both.

Depression

Depression is the most common condition that can develop when a person is grieving. It’s common in adults who experience a divorce or death of a spouse or child.

HIGH LEVELS OF ANXIETY

Anxiety also is common during the grieving process. But anxiety can last longer than expected. And it can also become intense and include extreme guilt. Anxiety can: Make you feel like you are losing control of your emotions. Overwhelming fear is also common.

Trigger episodes of physical symptoms (anxiety attacks) that you might mistake for a heart attack. During an anxiety attack, you are likely to have a feeling of intense fear or terror, trouble breathing, chest pain or tightness, heartbeat changes, dizziness, sweating, and shaking.

Physical Illness

People who have chronic medical conditions may have a recurrence or their symptoms may get worse when they are grieving. Adults who lose a loved one sometimes develop new health problems. Children can also have stress-induced physical problems while grieving.

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

People who experience a traumatic loss are at risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is an intense emotional and psychological response to a very disturbing or traumatic event, such as a sexual assault (rape), assault, natural disaster, car crash, war, torture, or death. You can develop PTSD symptoms right after such an event. Or PTSD may develop months or even years later.

Symptoms may include:

Persistent and painful re-experiencing of the event through dreams (nightmares) or while awake (flashbacks).

Emotional numbness, or being unable to feel or express emotions toward family, friends, and loved ones.

Avoiding any reminders of the event.

Being easily angered, aroused, or startled (hyperarousal). Counseling and medicines can be helpful for people who have PTSD.

PROLONGED GRIEF

Prolonged grief may also be called by other names, such as complicated grief. Symptoms include:

Longing and yearning for the loved one.

Intense loneliness.

Being upset by memories of the loved one.

Trouble doing everyday things without the loved one.

Prolonged grief is different from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With PTSD, a person is anxious and fearful that the traumatic event that caused the loss will occur again. In prolonged grief, anxiety results because the person is searching and yearning for their loved one.

If you or someone you know has symptoms of prolonged grief, seek help from a doctor or professional counsellor specializing in grief counseling. There are also groups such as GriefShare that are a great place to meet others going through the same things you are. Please read on for information about their meetings.

GriefShare

We are Here to Help

by Angelyn Hayes

CONSUMING LONELINESS. DEMOLISHED DREAMS. DEVASTATED HEART. DEPLETED ENERGY. EXCRUCIATING PAIN.

Words and phrases that describe feelings after a loved one dies are only the beginning.

While everyone’s response to death is unique, people facing grief will experience many of the same challenges such as loneliness, fear, anger, exhaustion, indecisiveness, regrets. Sometimes the challenge is just figuring out how to get through life’s daily activities. Sometimes the challenge is finding a way to ease the pain and find support while dealing with a loved one’s death. Fortunately, our community offers a place to find support and encouragement: GriefShare.

GriefShare is a non-denominational support group that connects grieving individuals with others who are also traveling the grief remind me of my family.”

“GriefShare put me in touch with other people experiencing grief. I met and bonded with several people who had lost loved ones. Now I can understand the pain, and with the help of GriefShare I was able to begin to heal.”

“The leaders were welcoming and caring. There were videos with experts on the topic of grief and group discussions where people talked about the feelings they had and their reactions to their grief experiences. I learned that although we shared many of the same feelings, the process and progression of grief was different for each of us.”

A new GriefShare session will begin on Sunday, August 20 at 3:00 p.m. at the Clayton First United Methodist Church in the Fellowship Hall located at 91 South Main Street, Clayton, Georgia. You may register in advance at GriefShare.org/findagroup or at the first session you attend. You may start anytime during the thirteen-week session. For more information about GriefShare or the current session, email claytongriefshare@gmail.com. or call 706-782-4426.