Body
When a person dies, his or her suffering is over. They have moved on; however, those who are still living are faced with huge pressures, devastating trauma, important decisions, and powerful emotions. The survivor’s grieving process has just begun. The attention of friends and relatives has been focused on the one who was dying. Now the ones living who are left behind and most closely affected by the death need the concern and caring of family and friends. None of us know what grief will be like until we experience it firsthand. We may expect to be sad or lonely, but may be surprised to feel other emotions like anger and guilt. It can be a surprise to discover that family relationhips and friendship may not be the same because of the change the grief-stricken have undergone after a loss. In recent years, research has shown that there are identifiable patterns of emotions in grief. Knowing what those are can help you recognize that the turmoil and pain felt are part of healing the injury that death has inflicted. Grieving is the process that heals the emotions related to loss and the subsequent changes in your life, but they won't last forever. Emotional reactions to the death of a loved one follow a fairly defined course. Giving into these natural feelings and letting them occur in their natural timing while being aware of things we may do that block the process will enable healing to take place. Death is a wound--a severe and painful psychological wound. As with any injury to the physical body, healing requires tender loving care, gentleness, and time. Change is the key. Some changes including happy events like graduation, marriage, and the birth of a child all require adjustment. Painful changes like the death of a loved one, separation, and abandonment require greater adjustment. Grief is the process of accepting the inevitability of this type of change and is an important, necessary part of being alive. Successfully dealing with change allows you to reach higher levels of growth, sensitivity, and understanding of yourself and others. The death of someone important in our lives is a change--a major one-and sometimes a sudden one. The relationship we had with the person dictates the intensity of your grief.