The Grief Store is located at 4360 South CongressAvenue, Suite 112. We are open Monday through Friday 8 AM - 5 PM.
Grief occurs after any sort of loss, but most powerfully after the death of someone we love. It is not just one particular feeling, but a succession of feelings. These feelings may take a while to subside, but that is normal.
Many people feel a sense of numbness immediately after their loss. This feeling may last days or weeks after the death has occured. For many people, the memorial or funeral service is the time when the reality of the loss sinks in. It may be upsetting to view the body or attend the service, but these are ways of saying goodbye to those we love.
After a while, this feeling of emotional numbness will subside and new feelings may emerge. Some people may feel anger towards doctors who did not prevent the loss, towards family and friends who did not do enough, and sometimes towards the decedent for leaving them.
Guilt is another feeling associated with grief. A person may find himself thinking of all the things he would have liked to have said or done. Death, however, is beyond anyone's control and a grieving person may need to be reminded of this. Guilt can also come about if the bereaved individual feels a sense of relief if their loved one has passed after a painful or distressing illness. This feeling is natural, understandable and common.
Periods of quiet sadness and depression may also develop while a person is grieving. These moments can be triggered by a person, an item or a place that brings back memories. They may sit in silence for periods of time, thinking of their lost loved one. This is a quiet but essential part of coming to terms with their loss.
As time passes, these feelings will subside, making it possible to think about other things and to move forward.