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Written by Sarah Roane
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While loss affects people in different ways, many people experience the following symptoms when they’re grieving. Just remember that almost anything in the early stages of grief is normal.
- Shock and disbelief – Right after a loss, it can be hard to accept what happened. Mourners may feel numb, have trouble believing that the loss really happened, or even deny the truth.
- Sadness – Profound sadness is probably the most universally experienced symptom of grief. Mourners may have feelings of emptiness, despair, yearning, or deep loneliness.
- Guilt – Mourners may regret or feel guilty about things they did or didn’t say or do. They may also feel guilty about certain feelings (e.g. feeling relieved when the person died after a long, difficult illness).
- Anger – Even if the loss was nobody’s fault, mourners may feel angry and resentful--at themselves, God, the doctors, or even the person who died for abandoning them.
- Fear – A significant loss can trigger a host of worries and fears. Mourners may feel anxious, helpless, or insecure and may even have panic attacks.
- Physical symptoms – We often think of grief as a strictly emotional process, but grief often involves physical problems, including fatigue, nausea, lowered immunity, weight loss or weight gain, aches and pains, and insomnia.
Reasons to recommend a grief counselor or professional therapist include:
- Someone who feels like life isn’t worth living
- Someone wishing they had died with their loved one
- Someone feeling numb and disconnected from others for more than a few weeks
- Someone unable to perform their normal daily activities
Common symptoms of shock or trauma
Emotional symptoms of trauma:
- Shock, denial, or disbelief
- Anger, irritability, mood swings
- Guilt, shame, self-blame
- Feeling sad or hopeless
Physical symptoms of trauma:
- Insomnia or nightmares
- Being startled easily
- Racing heartbeat
- Aches and pains
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Edginess and agitation
- Muscle tension
It’s a good idea to recommend professional help if you observe someone:
- Having trouble functioning at home or work
- Suffering from severe fear, anxiety, or depression
- Unable to form close, satisfying relationships
- Experiencing terrifying memories, nightmares, or flashbacks
- Avoiding more and more things that remind them of the trauma
- Emotionally numb and disconnected from others
- Using alcohol or drugs to feel better
Urban Balance www.urbanbalance.org 312-726-7170 |
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