Loss & Bereavement
Grief is what we experience after a significant loss in our lives. It is most commonly associated with the loss of a loved one, but can also apply to the loss of a job, home, pet, or other significant thing or possession in our lives. There are many emotions that we go through in dealing with loss. Among the most well-known task models of mourning is that of J. William Worden:
Task I: Accept the reality of the loss
Task II: Process the pain of grief
Task III: Adjust to a world without the deceased
Task IV: Find an enduring connection with the deceased in the midst of embarking on a new life
There is no set time line to completing these tasks, although they generally occur over months or years, not days or weeks. Worden points out that while it is essential to address these tasks to adjust to a loss, not every loss we experience challenges us in the same way. If you find a death is challenging you beyond your ability to cope with it, getting support from family, friends, clergy or a professional may help.
Grieving is an important and necessary process. Some people will try to push off the grieving process either to care for other family members, focus on other events in their life, or try to avoid it all together. This can allow the pain from the loss to grow or linger. Grieving allows us to deal with our emotions and face the reality of the situation. When this is pushed off it only makes the process more difficult later on. If you are having difficulty with the grieving process you should consider visiting a therapist.