Grief

How do you know if you are grieving??? If you have suffered a loss through the death of a loved one and don't feel "normal", you are probably grieving. If you exhibit or are feeling any or all of the following symptoms, you are dealing with grief. Symptoms: * Feel physically drained * Out of emotional control - feel good one minute; in the pits the next * Can't eat - food makes you sick. People tend to lose up to 40 pounds while grieving * Susceptible to illnesses * "Zombie Effect" Feelings shut down due to your body's natural coping mechanism * Brain is scrambled; can't think clearly or remember things * Cry continuously * Can't cry -- bottle it up (it will come out years later as problems) * Stay extremely busy so as not to have time to think * Drink too much * Take too many drugs * Can't sleep at night * Take naps frequently and are constantly tired * Sigh a lot * Talk about it over and over and dwell on it every moment * Lose interest in work; house; physical appearance * Neglect personal hygiene (don't brush teeth, take regular baths, or wash hair very often) * Don't care that you aren't taking care of yourself * Fantasize about the past * Suffer from extreme loneliness * Have lots of guilt about things you did or didn't do * Lack of interest in sex * Engage in self-criticism * Have a huge hole in your heart and soul * Relive and rehash scenes, conversations * Think you will never recover from your loss * Suffer from severe depression * See no reason to exist | |

| The Tasks of Grief | |

These are the tasks you must accomplish in order to work through your grief. It isn't always easy, and each person must accomplish these tasks in his or her own time. But each task must be accomplished in order for you to heal and move on with your life. | TASK 1 | You must accept the reality of your loss. You must talk about the loss until you accept it. The more you