Loss and Bereavement are an inevitable part of life. Grief is a natural, yet painful response
to loss. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, but there are healthy ways to cope with the
pain and express your emotions in ways that allow you to heal. Understanding bereavement and loss will help you on your journey.

Grieving is a personal and highly individual experience. How you grieve depends on many
factors, including your personality and coping style, your life experience and the nature of
the loss. If the death is sudden or by suicide or someone close to you, you may experience a
lot of mixed emotions.

Symptoms of grief

While loss affects people in different ways, many experience the following symptoms when
they’re grieving, Shock and disbelief, Sadness, Guilt, Anger or Fear. Just remember that
almost anything that you experience in the early stages of grief is a normal reaction to a
significant loss, including feeling like you are going crazy, feeling like you are in a bad dream
or questioning your beliefs.

Speaking to someone

These feelings need to be expressed rather than repressed. It helps the healing process to talk to a trained Bereavement Counsellor who is not emotionally involved and who supports and helps you express the emotions. Even if you are not comfortable talking about your feelings under normal circumstances, it is important to express them when you are grieving. Bereavement Counselling can help reduce the level of distress and assist you in coming to terms with the loss of your loved one.