Overcoming Grief
Simply defined, grief is deep or intense sorrow. An unhappy and painful emotion caused by
the loss of a loved one, usually through death, but also from ending a relationship.
Everyone experiences grief in their own way, but generally there are recognized stages to
the process of mourning.
It starts at the recognition of a loss and extends to the eventual acceptance of it.
Refusing to deal with the loss of a loved one, or being unable to face the loss, may cause
an absent grief reaction. Grief not expressed openly comes out in other ways, such as
physical symptoms or erratic behavior, or is displaced onto other persons.
While grief is natural, and clearly the most powerful of all emotional experiences, it is
also the most neglected and misunderstood experience a person can go through.
Physical signs and symptoms of grief
Insomnia
Nightmares
Fatigue/weakness
Irritable/out of sorts
Loss of appetite
Profound sadness
Anxiety
Withdrawal
Hysteria
Mood swings/euphoria to slumps
Great behavior changes examples: getting rid of everything or moving to try to get rid of
the hurt.
Shock
Disbelief
Numbness
Fear
Anger
Depression
Acceptance
Uncontrollable crying
Call your health care
provider if you are unable to deal with grief, are using excessive amounts of drugs or
alcohol, become severely depressed, or have prolong depression that interferes with your
daily functioning.
Treatment:
Emotional support for the grieving process is usually provided by family
and friends. Sometimes outside factors can influence the normal grieving process., and
outside help from a pastor, social worker, mental health specialists, or self help groups
may be helpful. Grief may extend a year or longer. Psychological counseling may benefit a
person suffering from absent grief reaction, or from depression associated with grieving.
Grief and loss can have an adverse effect on overall health. It can contribute to
depression, excessive use of drugs or alcohol.
Links to find information, help and support.
* Coping with Grief--Excellent
information in this site.
* The
Grief Recovery Institute -- Links to Compassionate friends, The National SIDS
Foundation, The National AIDS Network.
* Disorders
-- This site lists and gives information on the most common mental disorders.
* Online Psych Locator --
Comprehensive mental health locator.
* HealthAnswers.com
depression center -- Extensive information about depression.
* Killer Cliches about loss--Dealing
with loss, excellent article!
* Are there actual stages of
grieving? --The 5 stages as written about by DR. Kubler-Ross.
* Am I paranoid or am I being
avoided?--Talk about what has happened.
* I'm fine...and other lies!!!
* Less Than Loved On
* If I start crying will I be
able to stop
* MenWeb
- Men's Issues: Men and Grief--Do men grieve differently than women? Answers are in
this article.
* GRIEF RECOVERY
ONLINE, GROWW Main Pages
* The Center
for Grief Education
* barnesandnoble.com
Subjects - Mind, Body, and Spirit
* Grief Forum @ Online Psych
(AOL only)
SADNESS
Ultimately, to grieve our losses
means to surrender to our feelings.
So many of us have lost so much, have said so many good-byes, have been through so many
changes. We may want to hold back the tides of change, not because the change isn't good,
but because we have had so much change, so much loss.
Sometimes, when we are in the midst of pain and grief, we become shortsighted, like
members of a tribe described in the movie Out of Africa.
"If you put them in prison," one character said, describing this tribe,
"they die."
"Why?" asked another character.
"Because they can't grasp the idea that they'll be let out one day.
They think it's permanent, so they die."
Many of us have so much grief to get through. Sometimes we begin to believe grief, or
pain, is a permanent condition.
The pain will stop. Once felt and released, our feelings will bring us to a better place
than where we started. Feeling our feelings, instead of denying or minimizing them, is how
we heal from our past and move forward into a better future. Feeling our feelings is how
we let go. It may hurt for a moment, but peace and acceptance are on the other side.
So is a new beginning.
Help me fully embrace and finish my endings, so I may be ready for
my new beginnings.
~~Melody Beattie~~
~~The Language of Letting Go~~
As seen in Happy
Thoughts newsletter, used by permission.
Thank you Janice.
Got a health-related problem you want
to talk about? The Web's a great place to share it. Join HealthGuide for the run-down on
the best places to find health chats and events. You'll learn where to turn to for advice
on aging well, nutrition tips, support for parenting, and even talk about alternative
medicine. Your body (and health care plan) will thank us for it.
http://www.netguide.com/Snapshot/Archive?guide=Health&id=1140
HEALTHY
KIDS
Thank you Lee, for your help with these links.
It's the most
wonderful time of the year.........
No, Not Christmas..........................................
It's............... Back to School time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Over the next 3-4 weeks children across this
country will be heading back to school. I'm sending parents back to school to bone up on
health problems most likely to surface this season. Plus much more. You'll be glad after
checking out these links that you did your homework.
* Back to School -- Guide--Classroom trends, You won't
believe this years fashion trend!
* Back to School --
Improving Math Skills Through Music --Multiply your child's chance of retaining math facts by
singing?????
* Back to School --
Feed the Mind
--Along with the ravioli and peas, enhance reading skills with good nutrition.
* Back to School --
Lactose Intolerance: Give Them Culture
* Back to School --
Breakneck Breakfasts-- Truly the most important meal of the day.
* Back to School -- Say No
to Soda--You
decide.
* Back to School -- Food
For Sick Kids
--Colds, flu, make sure your child gets the nutrition they need during sick times.
* Back to School --
When Kids Leave the Nutrition Nest-- How can parents help their child eat the right foods away
from home???
* InteliHealth
- Home to Johns Hopkins Health Information: Immunizations and Vaccine Schedule --When to Immunize, what is an
immunization? Why immunize? Are they safe? Immunization Q&A? answered here. Birth thru
14 years.
* InteliHealth
- Immunizations and Vaccine Schedule--Printable schedule.
* Meet Benny Goodsport and the Goodsport Gang! --For parents and kids to
enjoy.
* What's Your Child's
Primary Learning Style? --Knowing how your child learns is the key to his success.
* The Brain and Learning
* Building a Better Person --Help children see the
difference between right and wrong.
* 10 Pearls of Wisdom
from Kids About Parenting --Raising the perfect parent.
CHICKEN
POX VACCINE AVAILABLE
Chicken pox doesn't have to be a "rite of passage" of childhood, and
treating it as such could be dangerous to your child's health and that
of adults not exposed to the disease in childhood.
Chicken pox is particularly severe in adults and is responsible for
several deaths every year. Yet despite the availability of a vaccine
that can help prevent the disease, only 34 percent of U.S. children
between the ages of 19 and 35 months are currently vaccinated against
chicken pox.
The vaccine is recommended for all people over 12 months of age who
are susceptible to the infection, including adults who did not have
the disease in childhood. It is not recommended for children under 12
months of age, pregnant women, individuals with a weakened immune
system, or those taking high doses of steroids.
Thank
you Susan for all the research you did and the time you spent on Healthy Living and
Healthy Kids this month. |