Everyone deals with grief, which can be painful at times. Most grieving people will experience some of the feelings outlined below. Ask yourself the following questions to help determine if you might benefit from grief services.

Has your patience level changed?

• Are you always irritable?
• Are you always annoyed?
• Are you always intolerant?
• Are you always angry?

Do you feel numbness or isolation?

• Are you experiencing an ongoing sense of numbness?
• Are you experiencing an ongoing sense of being isolated from yourself or from others?

Do you feel alone with your grief?

• Do you usually feel that you have no one to talk to about what has happened?

Are you anxious or fearful about death?

• Since your loved one died, are you highly anxious most of the time about your own death or the death of someone you love?
• Are these feelings beginning to interfere with your relationships, your ability to concentrate or your ability to live as you would like to live?

Are you consumed by thoughts of your loved one or their death?

• Do you feel that you are always and continually preoccupied with memories or thoughts of your loved one?
• Do you feel that you are always and continually preoccupied with the death itself?
• Do you feel that you are always and continually preoccupied with certain aspects of the death even after several months?

Do you feel restlessness or the need to stay busy?

• Do you usually feel restless or in “high gear?”
• Do you feel the need to be constantly busy beyond what is normal for you?

Do you fear intimacy or closeness with others?

• Are you afraid of becoming close to new people in fear of losing them?
• Do you think being close with others will cause pain?

Are your behaviors becoming harmful?

• Are you drinking more than you used to?
• Are you using more prescription or non-prescription drugs?
• Are you engaging in sexual activity that is unsafe or unwise?
• Are you driving in an unsafe or reckless manner?
• Are you considering serious thoughts of suicide?

Do you feel overwhelmed with responsibility for surviving family and close friends?

• Are you feeling heavily burdened or like you are taking on too much?
• Are you angry or feel like the situation is suffocating?
• Are you resentful because you feel as though no one is there for you?

Are you continually limiting your reactions and emotions?

• Are you experiencing only a few of the reactions or emotions that usually come with grief?
• Are you unable to express your thoughts or feelings about your loved one and their death through words and actions?
• Are you only remembering certain aspects of your loved one or your relationship together?

Do you feel like you are going crazy?

• Are you wondering if what you are experiencing is normal?
• Do you feel stuck or unable to move on?

A helping hand and a listening ear can be valuable while grieving. If any of these feelings continue for a prolonged period of time, or become extremely intense, you may benefit from additional help from a grief care professional.

Our grief care services are for anyone in the community who has experienced the loss of a loved one. Discover how our team can help you and your family by contacting us through our website or calling 855.492.0812.