Dealing With Grief

For most people, there is no human experience so traumatic and difficult to overcome than the loss of a loved one. The emotional grief that follows can be tough to overcome and get past, but allowing yourself to grieve is important.  

Loss of a dear one can be sudden from a terrible accident, or expected as the result of a prolonged illness.  Regardless, the grieving process begins almost immediately.  Although the process can vary from person to person, most people experience some level of shock and denial that their loved one is really gone.  This is followed by anger, as they ask why the Lord took their loved one or why these terrible circumstances happened to them.  It is very important that the person in grief seek professional help at this point, as the family and friends have mostly returned to their homes and their own lives.  Dealing with both anger and rejection at  this stage of the grief process is the most critical time.  With time, prayer and help from family, friends, and professionals, the person can move on to the final stages of grief.  Acceptance and hope can gradually replace the shock, anger and rejection, and allow the person to move on with their life, even finding happiness along the way.  

It is so important to allow the person who has experienced a loss to grieve. Family and friends should provide support through their love and friendship.  With time and professional help, the grieving person can overcome their loss and positively move on with the rest of their life.