When we experience a major loss, grief is the normal and natural way our mind and body react. Everyone grieves differently. And at the same time there are common patterns people tend to share.

For example, someone experiencing grief usually moves through a series of emotional stages, such as shock, numbness, guilt, anger and denial. And physical responses are typical also. They can include: sleeplessness, inability to eat or concentrate, lack of energy, and lack of interest in activities previously enjoyed.

Time always plays an important role in the grieving process. As the days, weeks and months go by, the person who is experiencing loss moves through emotional and physical reactions that normally lead toward acceptance, healing and getting on with life as fully as possible.

Sometimes a person can become overwhelmed or bogged down in the process of grieving. Serious losses are never easy to deal with, but someone who is having trouble beginning to actively re-engage in life after a few months should consider getting professional help. They may have what grief counselors call disenfranchised grief, or may be suffering through what these same grief support professionals call complicated grief.

If you, or someone you know, needs additional support in grieving the loss of a loved one, please call us. We’ll do everything we can to help.

Seeking Guidance: Grief Counseling

There has been an ever-increasing desire to expand traditional roles beyond "at-need" and "pre-need" services into "after-need" or post funeral services for the bereaved. As such, we provide bereavement services for the families we serve. For more information on this, please feel free to call us at (416) 733-8544, or contact us here.