Few situations in life are as shocking or upsetting as the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one. If you’ve recently lost someone, you’re probably experiencing one of the five stages of grief right now. These stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
All of the stages of grief can be difficult, including the final stage of acceptance, but grief shouldn’t be rushed or repressed. In fact, grief can be a transformative experience. Nothing will completely stop the pain, but most people don’t realize they can still live a fulfilling life with it, though it is very much possible.
When the Sadness Doesn’t Fade: Reasons to See a Grief Counselor
It’s possible that you don’t have anyone to talk with about your loss. You’re working with a wrongful death attorney, but they don’t have the time or the training to guide you through every moment of grief. Your friends and family members do their best, but sometimes you feel like they don’t fully understand. It’s also possible that you don’t want to bring up the loss in front of them, especially if they’re grieving too.
Many people choose to receive grief counseling to help them work their way through the stages and eventually reach a positive outcome. Others end up with a counselor because they simply have no other option. If some time has passed since the death of your loved one, and you still are unable to function normally, it might be wise to see a counselor as soon as possible.
1. The Freedom to Discuss Everything
When you visit a grief counselor, you’ll be free to express any emotion that comes up without the worry of upsetting anyone. If you’re working with a wrongful death lawyer, you can discuss the various aspects of the case that are weighing on your mind. You’ll also be free to discuss anything else that comes up. Grief can sometimes uncover other buried emotional traumas from your past, and now would be an excellent time to work through them.
2. An Increased Understanding of Loss
Just like your wrongful death attorney understands the legal aspects of your situation, your grief counselor will understand the emotional aspects. Loss can be very complex, and some of the things you’re feeling might not make sense to you. Grief counselors have been trained on the various ways different people react to loss, including children. Not only can therapy help you work through your own pain, but it can also help you get a better grasp on how to help your loved ones.
3. A Plan to Manage It All
Right now, you’re trying to balance work, therapy, health, your personal life, parenting and time to grieve. That can be difficult unless you have a plan. An experienced grief counselor can help you come up with a plan for budgeting your time that allows room for emotional healing. They can also provide tips and tricks for developing mindfulness and other practices that allow you to stay in the moment during busy or stressful times.
4. The Ability to Focus Again
Grief counseling allows you to get it all out on the table in a safe, compassionate environment. After you share some of your feelings, you’ll likely feel refreshed and ready for another positive phase. Grief always comes in waves, and while these waves won’t necessarily occur while you’re in your counseling session, talking about them there will still help you process what happened when the waves do hit. When emotions are processed, you clear space within your psyche. This is an important aspect of healing.
5. It Can Expand Your Desire to Help Others
After you go through grief counseling, you might experience a greater sense of compassion for others who’ve experienced losses. If so desired, you can take what you’ve learned from your counselor and join an ongoing support group. You’ll be able to help others who’ve recently suffered a loss, which can be a rewarding way to spend your time.
Death is something we all must deal with at one point or another, and there’s no shame in getting help. If you’ve lost your loved one in an accident and haven’t yet considered hiring a wrongful death lawyer, please contact Law Brothers today. When we meet for your free consultation, we can discuss the circumstances surrounding the death of your loved one and figure out the best plan to move forward.
