Amity Health - Supporting the Journey of Grief & Loss

They say there’s nothing that can prepare us for the inevitability of losing someone we care about, whether we’re young or old, and no matter the type of relationship we have with them.

The moments after losing someone as we grapple with the enormity of our emotions, can feel like the end of an era.

Many people find that the difficult days following an important loss, can go by in a blur of arrangements and adjustment, as community and family help navigate the logistics of loss.

Many of us become swept up in a ‘new normal’ and, while the remembrance of our loved one is never easy, life takes hold again.

Our ideas around grief and loss encompass the challenges of learning how to live without our loved one and navigating the new normal of a life that moves beyond grief.

The simple message is that every person’s journey through loss is as unique as the bond they shared with their loved one.

PEACE AND RESOLUTION

There’s a variety of theories around the ‘successful’ navigation of grief and mourning that are based on seeing what people do, and need to do, to move forward into life again.

One theory suggests that we have 4 tasks to master to achieve some peace and resolution of the grief that we are plunged into after losing an important other.

These tasks involve:

1.       Accepting the reality of the loss: Acknowledging that our loved one is truly gone - the first step, and perhaps the most difficult, toward healing.

2.       Processing the pain of grief: Allowing ourselves to feel the full weight of our grief is essential for moving forward, a process that can't be rushed or ignored.

3.       Adjusting to the new normal: As time passes, we begin to adapt to life without our loved one, though the ache of their absence remains a constant companion.

4.       Finding connection: finding ways to keep the memory of our loved one alive, while embarking on a new life and potentially, new connections.

As time passes, we begin to adapt to life without our loved one, though the ache of their absence remains a constant companion.

More often than not, we find a way to navigate these tasks with the support of friends and family. But for some of us, the tasks of mourning, of grief and loss, are not so cleanly navigated, derailing our sense of self and our ability to meet the challenges of the new normal.

THE NEW NORMAL

Here’s where the connection with others who are on a comparable journey can be of benefit.

Joining a grief and loss group offers a safe space in the company of those who have walked a similar path, finding solace that we're not alone in our grief.

While our circumstances will be different, our individual journey through the pain of loss has poignant and important similarities.

As a clinician, I’ve had the honour of walking beside those who’ve faced losing a loved one. I would encourage any who have struggled with grief and loss for an extended time, to join a group.  

CONNECTING THROUGH GRIEF

In the time leading up to the start of an Amity Health Grief and Loss group, we provide an individual session with the facilitator, to assess your readiness to participate prior to the start of group sessions.

Our groups have a maximum of 12 participants, exploring models of grief and loss, offering the opportunity to share personal stories of loss and recovery, and working to hold dear our loved one while moving through this journey.

If you’ve been grappling with the weight of grief, we invite you to join us.

TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST, PLEASE CLICK BELOW.

Guest Author: Brigid Morrigan (Amity Health Psychologist)