Grief may be experienced in response to physical losses, such as death, or in response to symbolic or social losses such as divorce or loss of a job.  The grief experience can be affected by one’s history and support system. Taking care of yourself and accessing the support of friends and family can help you cope with your grief experience.

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There is no right way to grieve. It is an individual process and a natural part of life. Life won’t be the same after a loss, but experiencing your grief will allow you to adjust to life after loss.

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Grief lasts as long as it takes to adjust to the changes in your life after your loss. It can be for months, or even years. Grief has no timetable; thoughts, emotions, behaviors and other responses may come and go.

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As part of our team we have Ministers and experience Chaplains who volunteer their time and bring support to those families that need it.

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WHAT IS GRIEF?

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Grief is the uncontrollable and natural reaction to the death of someone to whom you feel connected or attached. Your relationship may have felt secure (loving, respectful), or insecure (ambivalent, unpredictable).  Either way, when you feel connected to someone, you will experience grief after their death.

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THE GRIEF PROCESS

Experts advise those grieving to realize they can't control the process and to prepare for varying stages of grief. Understanding why they're suffering can help, as can talking to others and trying to resolve issues that cause significant emotional pain, such as feeling guilty for a loved one's death.

Mourning can last for months or years. Generally, pain is tempered as time passes and as the bereaved adapts to life without a loved one, to the news of a terminal diagnosis or to the realization that someone they love may die.

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GRIEF COUNSELING

• Recovery from loss is achieved by a series of small and correct choices made by the Griever.

• Sadly, most of us have not been given the necessary information with which to make correct choices in response to a loss.

• Recovery means feeling better.

• Recovery is finding new meaning for living, without the fear of being hurt again.

• Recovery is being able to enjoy fond memories without having them turn painful.

• Recovery is acknowledging that it is perfectly all right to feel sad from time to time and to talk about those feelings no matter how those around you react.

• Most importantly, recovery means acquiring the skills we should have been taught as a child. These skills allow us to deal with loss directly.

• Recovering from a significant emotional loss is not an easy task. Taking the actions that lead to recovery will require your attention, open-mindedness, willingness, and courage.