Information on Grieving

Grief is a painful state that occurs when a person loses someone or something of personal value. Grief is in response to loss of a friend, family member, spouse (through death or divorce), pet, income, house or --- in the case of immigrants --- country. The process of grieving helps us adapt to a new reality without the person who has died or a life situation that has changed.

Stages

• The process of grieving is different for every person and can last weeks, months, and even years. The stages of grief are not necessarily experienced in the same order, depth or duration. They include shock and denial, anger, guilt, depression, acceptance, and growth --- or readiness to move on. The intensity of grief can be related to the circumstances of the loss.

Symptoms

• Grieving persons are often preoccupied with their loss and experience strong and painful emotions that can be persistent. They often withdraw from the world and turn inward. Although these distressing states --- social withdrawal, preoccupation and painful emotions --- are burdensome, they function as a gradual transition into a new life without a family member, friend or into a changed life situation. Eventually, the intensity of grief diminishes.

Complications

• According to the Mayo Clinic, complications of grief include depression, suicidal thoughts or behaviors, increased risk of heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure, anxiety, long-term impairment in daily living, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and smoking or nicotine use.