Today we have a blog post from one of our Master’s level interns, Hannah Wise, about grief and why it matters.
Hannah feels a drive to help others reconnect with themselves and their bodies through mutual empathy, authenticity, and vulnerability.
She values the therapeutic relationship and sees it as a vehicle to deliver connection and healing. By creating a collaborative environment with clients, Hannah establishes a safe space for recovery and realignment.
Hannah believes that all bodies are beautiful and worthy. By reconnecting and honoring their bodies, clients can pull from internal strengths and skills to tackle the challenges and trials of everyday life. Hannah is honored and excited to walk along this journey of healing with her clients.
Grief: What Is This Feeling?
Grief is a deeply personal and emotional experience that will be present for all of us at some point in our lives. Grief can be confusing, overwhelming, and even isolating. It can manifest in many ways, depending on the person and the nature of the lost. Although it may be one of the most challenging emotions to navigate, grief is also a natural and necessary part of the healing process.
In this post, we will talk about what grief is, why we experience it, and why it matters for healing. I want to also emphasize that the feeling of grief is a journey rather than a destination. The intensity of grief may change daily, and it is rarely linear. Even on days, months, or years where we feel healed, there are moments where grief can resurface. I encourage you to welcome all these moments in your journey.
What is Grief?
Grief is the emotional response to any kind of loss. Most often, grief is associated with the death of a loved one. However, grief can be triggered by any form of loss, whether it be the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, a shift in identity, or a more ambiguous reason. It can be an experience of feeling empty when someone or something is no longer a part of our lives.
Friend, I want to validate and emphasize that grief is not limited to sadness. It can include a range of emotions, such as anger, guilt, confusion, disbelief, and even relief. The journey through grief is unique for each person, and there is no “correct” way to grieve. I would invite you to be curious about the emotions that come up for you and give them space to be present. As we will discuss later in this post, the range of emotions is a part of your healing.
Why Do We Grieve?
While grief may be uncomfortable or even unbearable at times, grief serves several important purposes as it helps us adapt to life after a loss. It helps us process the loss we have experienced whether it is a death, breakup, or significant life change.
I would encourage you to give yourself time to process. It helps us come to terms with, and honor that our situation has changed. When we grieve, it allows us time to acknowledge and reflect on the meaningful connection that has ended. When we acknowledge the loss, it can help us adjust to the new reality of our lives.
Why Grief Matters
Through the pain we experience in our grief, we also are given the grace to heal. Our hearts and minds need time to recover from emotional wounds, not unlike how our body needs time to recover from a physical injury.
Grief reminds us of not only our vulnerability as humans, but also of our resilience and ability to adapt and survive. With that resilience, we have the courage to embrace our feelings, sit with discomfort, and gradually find a way to live without the person or thing we lost. Through that process, we develop a deeper sense of empathy, greater capacity for connection, and renewed appreciation for life. It is the gift we receive through the experience of loss.
If you are in the throes of grief, be gentle with yourself. We validate how difficult it is to experience loss. Allow yourself to feel the emotions that surface and know that you will emerge stronger and more compassionate towards others and yourself.
Additional Resource
If you would like to learn more about grief and how to move through it, I recommend reading Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss by Pat Schwiebert and Taylor Bills. This is an excellent book for both adults and children that’s rich with wisdom and concrete recommendations for navigating grief.
Compassionate Affirmation:
Finally, here is an affirmation to carry with you in your grief journey: “Where there is deep grief, there is great love.”
You Got This!
Hannah
We hope you found Hannah’s insights on grief helpful. If her message resonated with you, this could be the perfect time to take meaningful steps towards your healing and peace. To initiate your work with Hannah, please feel free to call our office at 615.510.3797 or click here to learn more.
Hannah will also be co-leading our new Anchor Your Anxiety: Anxiety Support for Women therapeutic group. This six week group is for adult women who want to get support and skills to manage their anxiety.
This support group will teach you how anxiety functions and give you practical skills to shift your relationship to your anxiety. You will also have the opportunity to connect with others who understand how you feel.
We will be meeting at our Brentwood office every Wednesday, 5-6:30 PM. The group is $150 for the six weeks.
This space will be a time to nurture yourself, build community connection, and support your mental health. If you are interested and would like to join or learn more, please email [email protected]
