Loss
comes in many forms, and when we lose someone we ask questions of the universe,
why did s/he die? Why
did s/he leave me? Why
him or her? Why
did this happen?
As
a therapist I would meet loss every day when working with my clients and I have
also experienced it more closely in the death of my husband in 2001.
Because
life is about searching for meaning and trying to make sense of the world
around us a close personal tragedy brings an even greater need for
understanding and clarity. We so want to find some reason why we experience
confusion and disorder, our minds become clouded with disbelief in the face of
death.
We
humans have a desperate need to control our destiny and yet the loss of a loved
one to death shows us that we have no control and that in life there is a sense
of impermanence.
For
a time we are thrown into a surreal world where everything looks different and
yet is the same to those around us. How many found your-self caught in a kind
of distorted reality? I remember questioning, shortly after my husband’s death,
how all those people could just carry on buying their shopping in the
supermarket. How come they didn’t know that my husband had died only a few days
earlier? Strange I know but it was how I felt at that time. How come the world just carries on as if nothing
had happened?
When
someone you love dies either suddenly or in the case of a terminal illness it
is difficult not to get sucked into death with them. More often than not
struggling with the need to die one-self, and believing for a time that there is
no point to life.
We
live in a society that is conditioned to deny death, it’s made easy on
television, we see people die several times in the media, and we see a quick
recovery, however we know it is not that simple. Death on TV and the Movies is emotionless
and surreal.
Here
are some of the things that we need to grieve about and where expectations of a
quick recovery can be high.
Still births,
miscarriages and termination of pregnancy.
Death of a loved
significant other in the present day, which may be a trigger for past events,
for example, separation, harm, and endings which were traumatic from childhood.
Illness and
injury to self or other, including pets, destruction of houses, office
building, cities and countries, loss of limb, object and possessions like
jewelry, memorabilia, and cars and finally change of space or quarters, moving
house, translocation of work and home.
In loss it is
essential to remember that you need to go through a process of mourning whilst
also giving your self and others permission to follow it through, no matter how
long it takes. In the beginning it’s important to come to terms with the
disbelief, where the bereaved is still expecting the lost other to return and
cannot imagine that they have gone forever, this goes hand in hand with a sense
of numbness. In loss there has to be pain and it is important to express the
tears of sorry over and over until it gradually eases. There follows a period
of adjustment, getting used to doing things alone, things that you have done
with the lost love regularly, ordinary everyday things. Finally going full
circle to putting energy back into living and making a new life without the
lost other and this may be about finding a new love, going out socially again
and so on.
Throughout the
grieving process you may experience both physical and emotional disturbances,
for example; Sleep disturbances, Guilt and self remorse, Appetite disturbances,
Lack of concentration, Withdrawal from friends and family, Dreams and
nightmares about the loss issue, Searching and yearning, Restlessness and over
activity and Crying and wailing it is important to see your doctor for some
help in managing this level of distress also talking things through with family
and friends.
It is important
to remember all of this is normal and will last as long as it lasts. There is
no prescription for how to be after the loss of a loved one. We are all different
so remember to be kind to yourself if you are grieving, and also be patient with
someone you know who may be grieving. So often whilst grieving I felt that some of those around me thought that I should be over it. Generally that was because they just couldn't cope with my feelings.
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