The death of someone you love can be
one of the most painful and confusing
times of your life....
"Grieving is as natural as crying when you are hurt, sleeping
when you are tired, eating when you are hungry, or sneezing
when you nose itches. It is nature's way of healing a broken
heart."
                                     -- Doug Manning
Grief and Loss

    It is more than just losing that important person in your life -- it can also make you feel as
    if you have lost your sense of security and direction, even feel like a part of you is gone
    forever.  Grief is a natural response to the loss of someone or something that is valuable
    to you.  We grieve when someone close to us has died, although the loss of a marriage or
    relationship, career, home, or pet can also evoke tremendously stressful and
    overwhelming feelings.

    A person who is experiencing a profound loss often feels that they are "going crazy".  
    This can be attributed to the fact that most of us are unfamiliar with what a grieving
    person can expect to feel.  The grieving process can result in a vast range of feelings,
    including shock, sadness, loneliness, anger, confusion, guilt, and in some cases even
    relief and thankfulness.  Every experience of loss for every individual is unique, because
    each relationship in our lives is unique.  In fact, people are often surprised that their
    emotional experience is so intense.

    It is important to understand that grief is intensely personal.  Grieving is process that
    requires a lot of energy and time.  Many people may put pressure on you to "get over"
    your grief according to a specific timetable, when in fact there is truly no final endpoint
    to the grieving experience.  Feeling that you are not "over it" fast enough or not "grieving
    normally" can cause you to feel guilty, compounding even further the pain of grief.  

    But grief can also be a transformative experience.  Grieving can in fact lead to changes in
    you that can help you see life from a new and different perspective.  And ultimately it is
    possible to weather the storm and to learn to fully live again.  

    Seeing a counselor of therapist can often be of great benefit to the grieving person.  A
    counselor skilled in bereavement support can provide the grieving person with
    knowledge, support and guidance in helping them find their way through this difficult
    process.  In cases of suicide, traumatic loss, the loss of a child, or other complicated
    losses, counseling can be extremely beneficial to help the griever deal with the unique
    issues that they face.  

    For more information about grief and loss counseling services, please contact me at    
    812-320-2493 or asklaurab@sbcglobal.net.       Contact Me

    Additional information can be found at the following websites:

    http://www.caringinfo.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3282

    http://www.helpguide.org/mental/grief_bereavement.htm

    http://www.griefwatch.com