Shock

You are now experiencing what is called grief or bereavement. Grief is what you experience emotionally, physically, socially and spiritually when you lose someone. Your recovery to healthy living after the loss of a significant person is through the self-healing process of grief.

Emotionally, you may be feeling things like anger, numbness and disbelief. Physically, you may be crying, having an upset stomach, headache, diarrhea, excessive sweating, little appetite or a difficult time sleeping. Socially, all of your relationships are affected. You may have become a widow or widower, a family is now without one of its members, a business may have lost a partner or an employee, or a church may have lost a member. Spiritually, you might feel either distant or especially near to God.

In the first few weeks after the death of your loved one, your feelings may be particularly those of numbness and disbelief. This is perfectly natural even though it may be unpleasant to feel this way. This is part of the way in which you are protected from a very painful experience.

It may be good simply to allow yourself time now, take each day and each task one at a time. Seek out those who can simply listen or be with you as you feel that need. It is hard to imagine how, but you will come through this experience too.