What is Grief?
The majority of people will feel grief at some time in their life. According to mental health professionals, the loss of human life, employment, homes, and connections as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic has left many individuals in mourning. Addressing this feeling may be a difficult process that differs from person to person, but psychologists can assist people to traverse it by using a variety of grief counseling approaches and treatments.
Grief shows itself in a variety of ways, according to Elisabeth Kübler-prominent Ross’s Five Stages of Grief theory:
- Denial: The act of not believing or disregarding a loss.
- Anger: The expression of aggressiveness or a sense of injustice or unfairness at a situation, which might be directed at others at oneself.
- Bargaining: Making wishes, promises, or prayers about what a person will do to prevent experiencing the loss
- Depression: A loss of interest in previously undertaken tasks, as well as numbness, fatigue, and trouble focusing and participating in activities.
- Acceptance: Coming to terms with the loss and going on with one’s life.
Signs and Symptoms of Grief
The shock and sadness of loss can bring on waves of emotions and experiences that appear to be beyond our control. Grief can present itself in a variety of ways beyond sadness.
Psychological Symptoms of Grief
- Disbelief, shock, and denial that the loss has occurred or will occur
- Sadness, misery, and isolation
- Resentment and rage
- Shame, guilt, and regret
- Anxiety, helplessness, uncertainty, and fear are all symptoms of anxiety.
- Depression, numbness, and empty sensations
Physical Symptoms of Grief
- Fatigue
- Nausea or loss of appetite
- Pains and aches
- Heart palpitations
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Difficulty concentrating
- Frequent episodes of crying
- Feeling faint or lightheaded
- Significant weight loss or gain
Causes of Grief
- Death
- Divorce/Separation/Break-ups
- Health declines
- Isolation from Family or Friends
- Prolonged military deployments
- Financial setbacks
- Loss of employment
- Possessions lost due to natural disasters or political unrest
Treatment and Management of Grief
- Restoration-oriented activities allow people to form new habits and feelings of purpose. While in quarantine during the pandemic, a person may have developed a new pastime, for example.
- While restoration-oriented activities encourage “going ahead” with life after grieving, loss-oriented activities focus on the absence — the person or thing we miss.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Companioning: Attentively listening to a client’s concerns and recognizing the bereaved person’s emotional reactions as normal. Companioning also includes assisting bereaved clients in organizing and prioritizing daily duties, as well as establishing new routines.
