Thinking About Grief and Loss

Grief is a process. It does not end with the funeral. You may not believe that you will survive the pain. Be patient with yourself, there are no timetables. The grief process is never the same for any two people. Do not compare yourself with others in similar situations. Their smiles may not reveal the depth of their sorrows.

Accept Your Emotions

Death brings many reactions. These emotions are a natural response to the death of a loved one. Allow yourself to feel these normal emotions so that you can move through the grief. In the beginning you may feel:

Express Your Feelings

It is not enough to recognize your conflicting emotions; it helps to communicate them openly. Find a good listener, a friend who will understand that your many feelings are normal reactions to your grief.

Seeking Help

You may still feel alone. You may be disappointed in the reactions of your closest friends, on whom you counted. “Where are they now when I need them?” Perhaps they think you would rather be by yourself. It maybe they cannot handle the pain themselves. Working through the loss of a loved one is a complex and disturbing task. Even well-intentioned friends are not always enough. They are not trained in this field and may themselves be emotionally involved with the loss. Seeking help or advice from a professional counselor is not an admission of weakness, it is a demonstration of your determination to help yourself during this critical period of adjustment. Devoted Healthcare bereavement counselors can help, call us at (800) 613-9199.

Support Groups

Devoted Healthcare support groups are offered at no charge to anyone in our community who is grieving the death of a loved one. All groups are facilitated by master’s-level counselors or professional chaplains. Attending a support group is an opportunity to process and share feelings with others experiencing similar circumstances. This can be a valuable part of the healing process.

Please contact Devoted Healthcare for current information.

Grief During Holidays

When you have experienced a loss and a holiday or family event approaches, you may find that the anticipation is worse than the actual event. Knowing that you have some choices and a plan can be one way of helping yourself.

You can contact one of our professional bereavement counselors to set up a time to talk through these feelings at no charge. Call us at (800) 613-9199.