Reactions to a Sudden Death
It will never be determined which kind of grief is more difficult. All losses are painful! However, sudden death is recognized as one of the most difficult to recover from because of the tremendous shock involved. The difference between a sudden death and an anticipated death can be the impact it has upon the survivor’s […]
Loss of a Loved One from War
Your worst fears become reality when you are notified of a loved one’s death as a result of war in a far away place. You undoubtedly hoped and prayed for the safety of this special person since his/her departure for military service. Dreaded thoughts of dangers he/she would face in the line of duty probably […]
When a Baby Has Died
When someone close to us dies, the process of grieving is how we begin to untangle the emotional bonds we had formed with that person. Grief is the painful but necessary process that lets us say goodbye. When a baby dies before it is born or soon after birth, parents face a difficult emotional task: […]
Loss of a Special Person
There are a number of situations in life where a person may suffer a major loss, but unfortunately, the loss may not be acknowledged by society. These losses may not be perceived as important enough to be mourned for anything but a brief period of time. When the severed relationship is not openly acknowledged, often […]
Adult Loss of a Sibling
There appears to be no other loss in adult life that is so neglected as the death of a brother or sister. Many of us will have to face this loss, sometimes more than once. Yet, the general expectations from society is that the death of a sibling in adulthood will have little or no […]
Loss of a Child
The death of a child is frequently called the ultimate tragedy. Nothing can be more devastating. It is not surprising that there are many issues that make parental bereavement particularly difficult to resolve. Parents whose child has died undergo all the normal reactions to grief and are particularly susceptible to additional problems caused by the […]
Loss of a Spouse
No event is as devastating as the loss of a spouse. It requires the greatest life adjustment you will ever face. Knowing the facts of grief will not make your grieving process less intense. However, understanding that grieving is a normal response to loss allows you to better cope and to experience it without a […]
Loss of a Parent
The loss of a parent is the most common form of bereavement in the United States. Each year 5% of the population experiences the death of a parent. Parents are expected to die before their children, so the death of our parents are presumably deaths that we are supposed to take in stride. Unfortunately, there […]
Grief: The Reaction to Loss
No two people will experience a loss in exactly the same way. Your grief will be as individual as your fingerprint. No one can tell you how to grieve. There are no formulas for how much a loss will hurt or how long grief will last. Try not to compare yourself to others in similar […]