Grief is not a pathology or a mental illness. It is not a Major Depressive disorder. It is not something to “just get over.” Grief is a normal emotional reaction to a loss, any type of loss. The most typical feeling is sadness but grief can be so much more. It can be anger, depression, resentment, or intense feelings of loss. Or for most, it is just a feeling of sadness. It is a time when we become vulnerable to our emotions. We may cry and expose ourselves as we attempt to make sense of whatever it was that we lost. There are many who want to limit our grief reactions to a specific time or specific feelings. It can not be done. The loss needs to be felt, shared and expressed to adapt to not having what was lost. Grief is not to be ignored. It accumulates and piles up over time as other loses are experienced in our life. Soon we need help to make sense of all the feelings that we are experiencing. We sometimes become frozen not knowing what to do. Our friends and family have moved on and expect us to do the same. But there is that emptiness, that lies within us. Grief is so individualized and cannot be compared to the loss of others.
If you find that you are having difficulty with losses that you have experienced, come and share them with me. I will listen.
Written by Regina Mendenhall – MSW, LIMHP, CMSW, LICSW
Spence Counseling Center provides Christ-centered counseling services that integrate Biblical truth with professional therapeutic practices. With a team of experienced counselors, we help individuals, couples, and families find healing, hope, and growth through faith-based guidance. Our mission is to walk alongside clients as they align their hearts and minds with God’s Word, fostering lasting emotional, spiritual, and relational health. Wherever you may be in life’s journey, we are committed to helping you find strength, knowledge, and the skills to break the patterns that damage relationships and cause emotional pain. We help hurting people find genuine healing.