Understanding Grief

If you are browsing through this site, chances are that you have experienced the death or loss of someone important to you – or perhaps you know someone who is grieving. You are not alone in this. Thousands of young persons each year experience the powerful loss of someone that was important to and was cherished by them

The word grief describes the healing transition you experience as you go through your feelings and your experiences as you come to terms with this loss.

What feelings and experiences might I have?

Grief can be understood as the wide range of feelings and experiences we have when we are separated from a special relationship. Often we think of grief in terms of the death of a close friend or family member. We might feel this sadness and loss in reaction to any separation from those we love and care about. The loss of a parent through separation or divorce, the death of a sibling, the loss of a child through miscarriage or abortion, even losing a good friend when s/he moves to a new school or location can affect us deeply.

Your feelings will change from the shock and sadness you experience from the first time you learn about your loss, to the point where you believe you are able to relate to others with a sense of renewed energy and purpose. And because you are a unique person, you may share some, but not all of the feelings others have experienced. Here are some feelings that you can expect to have:

• A sense of shock or “numbness” in the early stages

• Anger at the cause of death or separation

• Regret about some “unfinished” business - the things you feel you might have said or done

• Feelings of “going crazy” - quick changes in mood

• Sadness at realizing that this person is no longer with you in person

• Fear that you might lose others who are close to you
  

For help with grief contact 
the Teen Health Centre at (519) 253-8481
and ask to speak to a counsellor