Grief and Loss

Supporting you through your darkest moments.

What is grief? It’s all the overwhelming feelings that hit you when you lose someone or something important. The sadness and despair that accompanies a great loss. Despite how universal grief is, its process is unique to each of us. 

For some, the realization of a loss may hit instantly, but others may experience it in waves. In fact, some people may even experience a form of grief that is delayed and unexpected.

So, if you’ve ever asked yourself how long grief should last, then know that there is no right answer to this question. There are no fixed stages of grief. For some, the grief could last up to a few days, but for others, it could be years.

Close-up of a woman's hand against a window with raindrops across it.

Causes of Grief

As unique as grief is, it always emerges after experiencing some kind of loss. While some kinds of loss may be apparent, others may not be understood by those who have never experienced something similar. 

Some examples include:

Death of a loved one

Whether it’s a partner, friend, or family member, losing a loved one can result in immense sadness, loneliness, and an inability to function without that person.

Loss of a relationship

Grieving a relationship comes in many forms. This can include breaking up, getting a divorce, or having to let go of the possibility of starting a relationship.

Loss of a pet 

Pets provide comfort, friendship, and are for most people, their primary source of companionship. For them, the grief of losing a pet can be as devastating as losing a best friend or a family member.

Loss of a child and miscarriage

Grieving the loss of a child is considered to be one of the most difficult experiences to come to terms with. One of the least understood forms of this is the grief of miscarriage.

Most people can’t relate to the loss of a pregnancy and don't know how to offer the right kind of help. 

Losing a child can result in a complicated grieving process where the mother might feel guilty and blame herself for the miscarriage. The sense of loss may remain long after the miscarriage because of the physical and emotional attachment developed with the baby growing inside.

Many women might not react well to the news of other people’s pregnancies and might experience a sense of loss after becoming pregnant again.

Any other loss

Not everyone has to go through something awfully tragic for their grief to be considered valid. For example, people can experience the grief of retirement from a job to which they dedicated years of time and effort. Some people may also grieve the process of leaving their home and moving to a different place or country. 

 In a nutshell, grief is subjective, and all grief is valid. 

Symptoms of Grief

Grieving can take its toll on a person and affect their ability to function like they normally would.

These symptoms can be physical as well as emotional:

Physical Symptoms of Grief

  • Insomnia

  • Loss of appetite

  • Exhaustion

  • Aches and pains

  • Fluctuation in weight

Emotional Symptoms of Grief

Other symptoms may involve the use of unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance abuse or high-risk behaviours.

Regardless of the kind of loss or resulting symptoms, it is essential to learn how to deal with grief in a healthy manner.

How to Manage Grief

Learning how to deal with grief is a complex process that doesn’t occur overnight. For many, grief processing is something that can take several years.

But some proven coping skills may ease the process:

  • Joining grief support groups

  • Grief journaling

  • Turning to friends and family for support

  • Seeking spirituality through prayer or meditation

While these are some of the ways that one can use to cope with grief and loss, they might not always work.

If you feel like your everyday functioning is hindered to a large extent, then it might be time to seek help.

Black and white close-up of a woman with her face buried in her hands.

We Are Here to Help

Located at 206 Ontario Street Stratford, we are local to Tavistock, New Hamburg, and the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Our clinicians also offer remote therapy across Ontario so that you can access the support you need - no matter where you are!

To get started you can fill out a contact form, call (226) 215-4244, or book an appointment online with one of our counsellors by clicking below.

We’re looking forward to supporting you!