Bereavement and your emotions
Grief is a natural process, and it’s normal to feel sad or lonely. But keep in mind that the intensity of your emotions will diminish over time. However, in order to heal from your loss you must first acknowledge how you’re feeling. Although everyone adjusts to loss differently and there’s no ‘right’ way to grieve, you may feel some of the following.
Shock and disbelief. When a person close to us dies, it can be hard to accept it’s really happened. You might feel emotionally numb or even that this is a just a bad dream happening to someone else.
Anger. This is a natural response to death. You may also seek to blame someone, God, the doctors, yourself, or even the deceased.
Sadness. You may find yourself crying suddenly and often throughout the day. You might also feel emptiness and despair.
Depression. More often than not the sadness we experience while grieving reduces and over time your thoughts will become positive again. But in some cases, grief can develop into depression.
Guilt. If you were caring for the person who died, you may feel a burden has been lifted, which in turn might make you feel guilty. You might feel guilty about the things you said, didn't say or feel you should have said.
Loneliness. The death of a partner or close friend can make you feel isolated, lonely and fearful for the future.
Acceptance. The pain of losing someone may never fully go away, but once you begin to accept that they are gone, most people are able to enjoy life again.
Shock and disbelief. When a person close to us dies, it can be hard to accept it’s really happened. You might feel emotionally numb or even that this is a just a bad dream happening to someone else.
Anger. This is a natural response to death. You may also seek to blame someone, God, the doctors, yourself, or even the deceased.
Sadness. You may find yourself crying suddenly and often throughout the day. You might also feel emptiness and despair.
Depression. More often than not the sadness we experience while grieving reduces and over time your thoughts will become positive again. But in some cases, grief can develop into depression.
Guilt. If you were caring for the person who died, you may feel a burden has been lifted, which in turn might make you feel guilty. You might feel guilty about the things you said, didn't say or feel you should have said.
Loneliness. The death of a partner or close friend can make you feel isolated, lonely and fearful for the future.
Acceptance. The pain of losing someone may never fully go away, but once you begin to accept that they are gone, most people are able to enjoy life again.