Signs that Show You Need Grief and Loss Counseling

Every individual experience loss at least once in their lifetime. Even though it is a phenomenon that happens to everyone, it can still leave people feeling terribly alone. Grief and loss counseling in Perth can help reduce loneliness and help a person move forward with their life.

It can enable them to understand the depth of their loss better and discover ways to process it better. When someone loses someone they love, instead of being subdued by its impact grief counseling enables them to honor their memory while pursuing their own goals and plans in life.

The following signs are an indication that an individual can benefit from grief counseling.

[A] Experienced a Fresh Loss :

Most people who have experienced a recent loss do not consider going to a grief counselor immediately. However, grief counseling can be beneficial for everyone who has undergone the pain of loss.

It can help them get through the struggle, preventing them from being overwhelmed by their emotions. Nevertheless, it should be kept in mind that different people experience grief differently.

Here is a list of things that might lead to grief in an individual :-

[1] The loss of a pet

[2] A difficult divorce or separation

[3] Family trauma and abuse

[4] Getting fired from their job

[5] Loss due to a natural disaster

[6] Loss of a limb or a body part

There may be different types of counseling meant for varying purposes, however, every individual can benefit from grief counseling.

[B] Feeling Unable to Move On :

Grief can be found in everyone's life, it is a universal phenomenon. It has no standard mourning period to overcome grief. The amount of time taken to triumph over grief entirely depends on the individual.

For some, things start feeling normal after a couple of weeks while for others it could take years to move on. A grief counselor can help the individual get unstuck slowly and steadily, enabling them to move on a lot sooner.

[C] You Moved On Too Quickly :

Grief is not exactly something that can be tucked away under the rug. Refusing to process grief or avoiding it entirely can lead to more trouble down the road. The storm will eventually resurface, returning stronger than before.

The primary sign that shows an individual is suppressing their emotions in the face of loss is when they keep uttering the words "I'm fine". Other instances of minimizing the effects of grief are when they start avoiding any reminders of their loss, for example avoiding places where they used to go together.

[D] Grief is Interfering with Work :

It is quite normal to be in a haze right after experiencing the loss of someone dear. It will take time for things to start feeling normal again after such a significant change.

However, if an individual is still facing difficulties performing at work and is feeling let down, seeking out grief counseling can be of great help. Not only will it help process the grief better but it can also be an opportunity to learn new ways to be productive at work.

Showing Symptoms of Depression :-

Even though grief is not the same as depression, it can still lead to it. If someone is showing signs of chronic depression after experiencing a loss, following counseling strategies can help them overcome it.

Here are a few differences that can help distinguish grief from loss :

[A] Grief will keep the individual focused on their loss. Depression will keep them focused on themselves.

[B] A depressed person can feel worthless, and guilty and suffer from low self-esteem. A grief-stricken person can feel fleeting sensations of guilt but their self-esteem remains intact.

[C] Emotions and sensations like interest, pleasure and hope can fluctuate in grief but do not in depression.

[D] A grief-stricken individual can feel better in the company of loved ones. The same cannot be said in the case of depression.

[E] A grieving person can feel a whole range of emotions. A depressed person feels a restricted range of emotions.

Both grief and depression can affect an individual's life in synonymous ways. Professional therapists and certified counselors can extend their help with proper grief and loss counseling strategies in Perth. However, it should be kept in mind that depressed individuals might need special care more than those who are depressed from grief.