Grief comes in all shapes & sizes. It is not a one size shoe that fits everyone. We know that the 5 stages of grief are: denial, acceptance, bargaining, anger, & depression. A lot of times these do not come in any certain order or last for a certain amount of time. On the same hand, for example, you could go through all 5 stages in 1 day, the next day be fine, and then be stuck in a depression for a week. They’re so many misconceptions and myths around grief. Let’s talk about the top 10 most common ones so that when you are deep in one of these stages, you are able to ground yourself and remind yourself that this won’t last forever.
Myths & Misconceptions:
- Grief is something you just eventually get over. (The reality is that the space and time around the grief gets bigger so the grief eventually just becomes a bit smaller as time goes on.)
- Children should be protected from grief & death. (Children should learn about death & life after death & their emotions that they feel are valid & okay.)
- Grief will only affect you mentally. (Grief can also cause physical issues such as nausea, vomiting, anxiety, new fears, sleepless nights/oversleeping, increased heart rate, & many more)
- Their is a right and wrong way to grieve
- Advice is the best way to help someone through their grief. (Most people just need support which might include a hug, a listening ear, a meal, or something else where your presence is key.)
- Moving on means you are forgetting your loved one. (Moving on means accepting the death, not forgetting them. You still keep their memory alive by shared stories, reminiscing to yourself, or looking at things they may have given you or made you)
- You must be strong for your loved ones. (Fact is that expressing your emotions and feelings may actually help your loved ones with theirs as well.)
- Only death can cause grief. (Many things can cause grief including divorce, losing your house, job, a sick child, moving, more)
- You have to go through all the stages of grief before being okay. (You can go through 1 stage multiple times or you can go through none of them and just be sad about the situation for awhile.)
- You will never be okay again. (You will, it takes time but you will find your new normal. Lean on your support at this time. If you don’t have family or friend support, find an online support group, visit a church, or even just give a church a call because they may visit you in your home.)
If you are struggling with grief, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Cayhla, our client services so she can help you navigate the grief you are going through!
Give her a call today at 815-288-4673
