Loss: The Process of Grief and Acceptance

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LOSS: THE PROCESS OF GRIEF AND ACCEPTANCE

therapist helping a woman to get over grief and acceptance

Losing a loved one is never easy. No matter the differences in the way grief is experienced, loss is a globally shared concept. Loss, in all different forms, is a natural occurrence that often can’t be prevented, no matter how much someone tries.

Loss can be so intense that it can lead someone into a downward spiral of depression or self-harm. An individual can get stuck inside a dark cycle during the process of grief after a loss, which can be challenging. Sometimes a loss can hit unexpectedly, decreasing the amount of control an individual has over their emotions.

However, there are ways to avoid going down this dark path. There are ways to accept what transpired.

The Different Faces of Loss

It’s important to note that loss does not always mean death—it can also mean losing a relationship that was important for that person. People can strain their relationships with significant others, friends, and even family members for different reasons. Loss can also be the loss of a job or position and the difficulty of moving on from that. The experience of loss can encompass many different things. How people respond and cope with loss will also differ from person to person.

How Loss Can Lead to Dark Times

There is no judgment for how someone decides to deal with a loss of any kind in their lives. Some people can’t choose how to respond to a specific loss, as it can catch a person off guard.

It’s okay for individuals to feel in despair. Everyone processes grief differently, but someone cannot be stuck in that dark cycle forever, for it will crush them. For those stuck in that dark path, there are ways to get out before it’s too late, with therapy and emotional support from friends and family.

The reasons someone can become overwhelmed during the process of grief can be:

  • Pain
  • Mental state before the loss
  • Lack of support
  • Self-isolation

These factors can lead to becoming stuck with one mindset, making it difficult to break free from this cycle.

How to Prevent Going Down the Dark Path

Having a clear and healthy state of mind is ideal before a loss occurs. This way, individuals know how to process the grief and accept it. However, this isn’t the case with everyone.

When individuals feel lonely and isolated while dealing with grief, it may be best to seek help from a mental health professional. Distractions like walking, gardening, reading a book, and explaining emotions to another person can also stimulate the brain and keep it busy.

Dealing with grief can make it challenging to keep an optimistic mindset. However, when individuals remind themselves that better days are ahead and they will get through their grief, they may become motivated to heal from their pain. If having a positive outlook is challenging to accomplish by themselves, it is encouraged for individuals to seek outside support wherever possible.

How to Accept the Loss

While experiencing grief, assessing what has happened, and processing emotions, keeping an optimistic view of the future is significant to the healing process. In order to for an individual to move forward in life, it’s essential to recognize why they are grieving.

If they are grieving because a loved one has passed away, accepting it can be challenging. However, recognizing the reality of the situation and what has happened can help settle their mind. This process will take time, but eventually, the individual will be able to move on.

It can be challenging to realize that death must be accepted, but the intention of this practice is not to pass off the loss like it’s nothing. The purpose behind accepting loss is to recognize it as a natural part of life. Accepting the reality of grief and loss is not to ignore it but to honor the person in memory while not deterring from life entirely.

This same thought process should be applied to all different kinds of loss that cause grief. It is best to think of the light at the end of the tunnel. A loss can change a person’s reality forever, as what was there before is not there anymore. However, recognizing and accepting a new reality can help individuals process their grief in a healthy way without completely derailing their life.

Sad and tragic moments are part of living, and that’s something that should be acknowledged. No one has to like it, but keeping this in mind helps alleviate the grieving process. Remembering that not all is lost can help people move forward in their grief until better times eventually appear.

Loss can be traumatizing to many in the world, which is why there should be avenues of support to conquer the negativity. Sabino Recovery can be one of those avenues. We are easily accessible and ready to provide the necessary help. With licensed therapists trained to help patients overcome loss and trauma, many have succeeded in finding a way out of their grief. If you or a loved one is suffering from loss and are struggling with returning to daily life, call Sabino Recovery at (844) 809-1067.

Loss: The Process of Grief and Acceptance

Sep 29, 2019

Mental Health

Shara Turner, LPC, MSC, NCC, NARM

LOSS: THE PROCESS OF GRIEF AND ACCEPTANCE

therapist helping a woman to get over grief and acceptance

Losing a loved one is never easy. No matter the differences in the way grief is experienced, loss is a globally shared concept. Loss, in all different forms, is a natural occurrence that often can’t be prevented, no matter how much someone tries.

Loss can be so intense that it can lead someone into a downward spiral of depression or self-harm. An individual can get stuck inside a dark cycle during the process of grief after a loss, which can be challenging. Sometimes a loss can hit unexpectedly, decreasing the amount of control an individual has over their emotions.

However, there are ways to avoid going down this dark path. There are ways to accept what transpired.

The Different Faces of Loss

It’s important to note that loss does not always mean death—it can also mean losing a relationship that was important for that person. People can strain their relationships with significant others, friends, and even family members for different reasons. Loss can also be the loss of a job or position and the difficulty of moving on from that. The experience of loss can encompass many different things. How people respond and cope with loss will also differ from person to person.

How Loss Can Lead to Dark Times

There is no judgment for how someone decides to deal with a loss of any kind in their lives. Some people can’t choose how to respond to a specific loss, as it can catch a person off guard.

It’s okay for individuals to feel in despair. Everyone processes grief differently, but someone cannot be stuck in that dark cycle forever, for it will crush them. For those stuck in that dark path, there are ways to get out before it’s too late, with therapy and emotional support from friends and family.

The reasons someone can become overwhelmed during the process of grief can be:

  • Pain

  • Mental state before the loss

  • Lack of support

  • Self-isolation

These factors can lead to becoming stuck with one mindset, making it difficult to break free from this cycle.

How to Prevent Going Down the Dark Path

Having a clear and healthy state of mind is ideal before a loss occurs. This way, individuals know how to process the grief and accept it. However, this isn’t the case with everyone.

When individuals feel lonely and isolated while dealing with grief, it may be best to seek help from a mental health professional. Distractions like walking, gardening, reading a book, and explaining emotions to another person can also stimulate the brain and keep it busy.

Dealing with grief can make it challenging to keep an optimistic mindset. However, when individuals remind themselves that better days are ahead and they will get through their grief, they may become motivated to heal from their pain. If having a positive outlook is challenging to accomplish by themselves, it is encouraged for individuals to seek outside support wherever possible.

How to Accept the Loss

While experiencing grief, assessing what has happened, and processing emotions, keeping an optimistic view of the future is significant to the healing process. In order to for an individual to move forward in life, it’s essential to recognize why they are grieving.

If they are grieving because a loved one has passed away, accepting it can be challenging. However, recognizing the reality of the situation and what has happened can help settle their mind. This process will take time, but eventually, the individual will be able to move on.

It can be challenging to realize that death must be accepted, but the intention of this practice is not to pass off the loss like it’s nothing. The purpose behind accepting loss is to recognize it as a natural part of life. Accepting the reality of grief and loss is not to ignore it but to honor the person in memory while not deterring from life entirely.

This same thought process should be applied to all different kinds of loss that cause grief. It is best to think of the light at the end of the tunnel. A loss can change a person’s reality forever, as what was there before is not there anymore. However, recognizing and accepting a new reality can help individuals process their grief in a healthy way without completely derailing their life.

Sad and tragic moments are part of living, and that’s something that should be acknowledged. No one has to like it, but keeping this in mind helps alleviate the grieving process. Remembering that not all is lost can help people move forward in their grief until better times eventually appear.

Loss can be traumatizing to many in the world, which is why there should be avenues of support to conquer the negativity. Sabino Recovery can be one of those avenues. We are easily accessible and ready to provide the necessary help. With licensed therapists trained to help patients overcome loss and trauma, many have succeeded in finding a way out of their grief. If you or a loved one is suffering from loss and are struggling with returning to daily life, call Sabino Recovery at (844) 809-1067.

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