Grief CounselingNew York, NY
Losing a loved one is never easy. Having to endure the pain of losing someone alone is unbearable and is a weight you carry for the rest of your life. For this reason, patient mental health is not only our top priority but our greatest passion.
Nobody deserves to live in the pain of grief. Grief counseling can help.
Why do people need grief counseling?
Death of loved ones affects us all at some point in our lives. Each person copes with this pain in different ways, depending on factors like relationship to the deceased, religious beliefs and previous experiences with losing loved ones.
Pain associated with loss can be overwhelming at times. Spending time with others and talking through thoughts and feelings can immensely benefit the mental state of someone coping with grief. Sometimes, talking to those closest to you can be challenging as well. You may feel alone — like no one understands the pain you are going through.
We want you to know that you do not have to go through this difficult time alone. Our compassionate grief counselors are with you every step of the way.
There are generally two different styles of grief: Cognitive (instrumental) and emotional (intuitive). These styles govern the way we process and handle grief.
Reaching out for additional support to help you get through loss is nothing to be ashamed to do. Treat yourself kindly and talk to our counselors. We strive to arrange a personalized experience tailored to your every need.
We care about your well-being. Mental health and physical health go hand in hand, so when your mind is unhealthy, it can start to affect other parts of your body. The pain of losing someone can physically hurt and cause stress. Taking care of yourself and realizing you may need help getting through this tough time is the first step in recovery.
Signs it may be time to reach out to a grief counselor
We realize that each person handles grief in their unique way. No two people go through the same process of grieving.
Our grief counselors are trained to recognize and treat all facets of grief. Feelings of anger, sadness and depression are all completely natural reactions to loss. When these symptoms last for long periods or start to consume your life, it is usually time to seek help.
Prolonged periods of depression
It is normal to feel sad every once in a while. Sadness is a common emotional response to losing a loved one. There is an essential distinction between sadness and depression.
Persistent, unrelenting feelings of hopelessness and helplessness could mean depression. Constant depressed mood and loss of interest in daily activities are symptoms of depression as well.
Grief counseling can help alleviate some of the pain associated with depression and sadness.
Thoughts of suicide should be addressed immediately. If you have any self-destructive feelings, know that grief counseling is designed to take some of the weight off your shoulders.
Uncontrollable crying
Especially when loss happens suddenly or unexpectedly, intense feelings of sadness may compel a person to cry. Although everyone handles loss differently, crying is a natural response in the process of grief. Severe sadness leading to uncontrollable bouts of crying can be remedied by seeing a grief counselor.
Panic attacks
Usually associated with anxiety, panic attacks can signify a variety of mental instabilities. A panic attack is when you feel the sudden onset of intense fear or discomfort. Symptoms can last for minutes, usually hitting a peak and then declining sharply.
Panic attacks are accompanied by heart palpitations, sweating, accelerated heart rate and trembling. During an attack, you may experience shortness of breath as well.
These usually short periods of strong feelings do pass, but they can be quite terrifying when they happen. Attacks can be triggered by thoughts of the loved one who has passed or feelings of loneliness and despair.
Being alone during an attack can make things worse. Having a trusted grief counselor by your side can help you deal with this anxiety.
Anger and irritability
Increased irritability can signify an inability to confront deeper emotions. Grief counseling can help get to the root of these fears, bringing them to light and making them much less daunting. A counselor is there to listen to you while you confront these feelings.
Consistent anger may alienate the supportive people around someone who is grieving. Irritability and anger will pass, but sometimes these emotions need a little nudge from someone who is willing to listen.
Sleeping problems
These problems include having trouble falling asleep, sleeping too little, sleeping inconsistent hours or even sleeping too much. Sleep is heavily connected to the mental state of an individual.
For this reason, sleep problems can often be a sign of a deeper issue. Some people do not show symptoms of grief during the day, but they may begin at night.
The stages of grief
There are five stages of grief which make up the framework of how we think about and cope with loss:
1. Denial
Life can seem meaningless and daily activities overwhelming at this point in the process. A state of shock washes over us as denial begins. Denial is a needed survival instinct brought on by sudden, traumatic life events. Although life may seem hopeless at this stage, know that denial is a crucial part of your ability to successfully grieve.
2. Anger
A necessary stage in the healing process, anger brings you one step closer to feeling acceptance. While you feel like you are pushing people away, the anger can help you speak your feelings. Grief counseling helps to manage this anger and bring closure to the sufferer.
3. Bargaining
Known as the “what if” stage, bargaining is a confusing time for someone who is grieving. Questions are constantly on the mind. Instead of going down a path of infinite questions that have no answers, you can work with a grief counselor to move on with your life.
4. Depression
You may feel closed off to the world at this stage. A grieving individual may feel that they are sinking into the shadows. This is when grief counseling can help the most since counselors can help you escape these dark thoughts.
5. Acceptance
Finally, accepting the reality that your loved one is gone has arrived. This stage brings closure to the griever. Acceptance comes in many forms, but no one arrives at this healthy stage alone.
No matter what step in the process you may find yourself at, we can help you reach acceptance.
Life is a beautiful thing, but it sometimes causes us to feel uncontrollable pain. It is natural to miss our loved one and experience remorse or other negative feelings after they pass away.
Our goal is to treat all clients with respect and compassion. We can help you navigate this difficult time.
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