What is the difference between grief and loss?

Some people don't realize that there's a difference between grief and loss. One is a process and the other is an inevitable part of life. Many people have a difficulty dealing with death. There is an unwillingness to discuss issues of death and dying. With the amount of loss we have experienced due to the global pandemic it's a natural topic to discuss.

What is Grief?

Grief is the natural human response to the loss of a loved one. Grief moves in stages. There are emotional, physical, social, or religious reactions and symptoms too grief.

The 5 Stages of Grief:

• Denial & Isolation
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance

According to others there are 7 emotional stages of grief: shock or disbelief, denial, bargaining, guilt, anger, depression, and acceptance/hope.

There is thing called: anticipatory grief. This type of grief happens when someone with a prolonged illness and the patient and the loved ones have time to anticipate the impending death. This type of grief is not less painful than sudden grief. It can be just as painful and stressful as sudden grief. Anticipatory grief can allow the family to prepare for the inevitable loss of a loved one. People usually try to get their affairs in order, they seek support from spiritual leaders, they resolve issues and concerns, spend quality time with family and friends, as well as clarifying what funeral and burial arrangements they wish for. For more information about grief and loss from another source, follow the link. (Hopkins Medicine)

What is loss?

Loss is the emotional suffering you feel when something or someone you love is taken away. You may associate grieving with the death of a loved one- which is often the cause of the most intense type of grief but any loss can cause grief including divorce, a breakup of a relationship, or the loss of health.

Some of the side effects of losing a loved one include:

• Extreme hopelessness
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Suicidal thoughts
• Persistent thoughts of worthlessness
• Obvious mental and physical sluggishness

For more information about the services or any questions or concerns you may have please check out what Embracia Health Clinic offers, click on the link.