One of the most difficult things any of us will have to deal with is the loss of a loved one. Although grief is a normal part of adjusting to life without someone you care for, there are many ways that talking with a psychologist can help you through the process. Additionally, when grief seems to become a permanent state of being, rather than a normal part of the process of loss, professional help may be required.
Loss of a loved one can take a severe mental and emotional toll.
What are some of the reasons for seeking psychological help in response to loss?
Prolonged Sadness: As we stated, it’s normal to feel loss and sadness at the death of someone close to you. But if these feelings don’t leave you, there may be something else going on. Extended periods of grief can lead to clinical depression, at which point normal grief has given way to mental illness.
Guilt: When a loved one passes, it’s not uncommon to experience feelings of regret or guilt, even when these feelings are unfounded. Sometimes these feelings can become overwhelming, leading to discord in your relationships and at work. A psychologist can help you work through these feelings and resolve them without letting them do damage to your life or mental well-being.
After the death a loved one, you may feel guilt or regret, even when there is no cause.
Things Left Unsaid: One of the more difficult situations in which to lose someone is when the person died before longstanding issues could be resolved. This can happen in cases where parents and children are estranged, often leaving the adult child with many things (both positive and negative) unsaid. A session with a psychologist can give you the opportunity to say what you need to and make peace with the past.
Anger: Anger can be difficult to express when someone has died, as many people find it poor behaviour to speak ill of the dead. However, anger is often a legitimate feeling when someone close to you has passed away. This can be due to unresolved issues with the deceased, or feelings of abandonment or betrayal. The deceased need not have had a hand in their own death for surviving friends and family (especially children) to feel resentment.
Normal Grieving: Again, it’s often a good idea to talk with a psychologist about your feelings, even if they seem to be completely normal. Coping with loss is difficult at the best of times, and expressing your feelings to someone who can help you process them in a healthy manner is always a good decision.
Overcoming the death of a family member is possible with sound psychological guidance.
When to seek professional counselling.
Any time someone dies, even if you were not very close to them, it can bring up many issues and feelings that had been hidden away while the person lived. Realising one’s own mortality can bring on feelings of depression, while the loss of a spouse can so drastically alter day-to-day life that it’s difficult to adjust and carry on. If you are experiencing grief and wish to speak to a caring, confidential psychologist, please contact me to make a booking today.