Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something significant, whether it's the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or the loss of a job. It can also stem from major life changes, such as moving to a new home or unexpected events like a serious illness diagnosis. Even positive moments, like the birth of a child, can evoke feelings of grief, manifesting in various emotions, including sadness, anger, and loneliness.
While grief is a normal and healthy human experience, unaddressed grief can lead to complications like depression, impacting not only your well-being but also your relationships with others. At Clarity Counseling Center in Wilmington, NC, our relationship therapists specialize in affordable counseling to help you navigate your grief and its effects on your life.
If you’re struggling with grief and its impact on your relationships, our team of experts in Wilmington is here to support you. Contact us today to begin your healing journey!
When you first learn of a loss, it’s normal for thoughts such as “this isn’t happening” or “this can’t be true” to arise. You may feel numb or exhibit signs of shock. This is called denial. It is a defense mechanism, a temporary way to deal with the overwhelming rush of emotion.
As reality sets in and you are faced with the pain of your loss, you may feel frustrated or helpless. These feelings can fester and turn into anger, which you may direct toward yourself, other people, God, Fate, or life in general. To be angry with a loved one who has died and left you alone is also common.
During this stage, you begin to question what you could have done to prevent the loss. Common thoughts beginning with phrases such as “If only” and “What if” cycle through your mind repeatedly, and you may find you can’t turn it off.
Sadness sets in as you begin to feel the depth of your loss and see the profound effects of it on your life. Signs of depression include crying, sleep issues, and a decreased appetite. You may feel overwhelmed, regretful, lonely.
In this final stage of grief, you come to accept that your loss is real and permanent. It cannot be changed; that person is never coming back. And while you may still feel sad, you start to be able to carry on, to move forward with your life.
Here at Clarity Counseling Center, we have a wide range of therapists who specialize in different therapeutic approaches. If you’d like to browse their profiles, visit our Meet Our Therapists page. It’s important to make a good match, and the therapist who works for one person may not work for another. While all of our therapists are highly skilled, their work with you will only be effective if you’re a good match and feel connected with them!
If you don’t like your therapist, you may be concerned that they’ll judge you, and won’t feel safe sharing your innermost thoughts. In order to get to the heart of what’s bothering you, you have to have a bond with your therapist. So, how do you actually choose a therapist? Our team is here to help! We specialize in ‘therapist matchmaking’ and are more than happy to work with you to ensure a good fit.
