Understanding Grief
Grief Resources
Grief is a natural reaction to a death.
It encompasses a range of thoughts, emotions, and physical reactions as we process our loss. Grief affects us on multiple levels - physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual.
Common Emotions of Grief
Grief can bring intense emotions such as sadness, frustration, longing, loneliness, sorrow, guilt, anger, and sometimes even relief. These feelings can be confusing, especially when they seem contradictory.
Physical Reactions to Grief
Grief often has physical effects, including feelings of emptiness, shortness of breath, weakness, changes in appetite, and altered sleep patterns - such as trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up early. It can also affect energy levels, making some people lethargic and others hyperactive. Children, in particular, may exhibit increased energy.
Behavioral Responses
Common behaviors during grief include crying, irritability, hostility, and withdrawal from social activities. Some people may constantly talk about the deceased, while others may avoid the subject altogether.
Spiritual Impact
Grief can lead to a re-evaluation of spiritual beliefs as individuals search for meaning in their loss. Some may find comfort in their faith, while others may question or turn away from their beliefs.
Passages through Grief
There is no destination, no arrival, no ending place in the journey of grief. There is no road map to follow, no formula, and no way to hurry the journey or bypass the pain. There are passages to live through, not stages that we move past in a lockstep, hierarchical order. To force ourselves or our children into a linear grieving “process,” evaluating where we are on the ladder of grief, is a vain attempt to control and manipulate a “journey of the heart.” This journey cannot be controlled, it can only be lived through by each of us in our own time and in our own way.
Barbara Coloroso
Parenting through Crisis
Parenting through Crisis
Explore More Support and Resources
For additional information and resources to help navigate grief, visit our Grief Resources Page. Here, you'll find a wealth of tools, guidance, and support designed to assist you and your family through this challenging time.
FAQs
How do I talk to a child or teen about death?
Be open and honest. While it’s natural to want to protect them from pain, understanding loss is part of grieving.
Should a child or teen attend the funeral?
Let them choose. Explain what will happen in simple terms and respect their decision. If they want to participate, they could help with tasks like choosing photos or reading a poem.
What can I expect from a grieving child or teen?
Grief varies. Children may have trouble focusing, be more active, or withdraw. Their emotions can change quickly. Physical activities, art, and talking with someone they trust can help.
Should I share my grief with my child or teen?
Yes. Showing your grief helps them feel comfortable expressing theirs. Create an open environment for them to share their feelings, and be ready for brief, spontaneous conversations.
Helpful Links
- Bereavement Ontario Network http://bereavementontarionetwork.ca
- Camp Maple Leaf www.campmapleleaf.net
- Canadian Virtual Hospice www.virtualhospice.ca
- Child Youth & Family Services Coalition of Simcoe County http://www.simcoecountycoalition.ca
- The Dougy Centre – The National Centre for Grieving Children & Families www.dougy.org
- Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka https://gildasclubsimcoemuskoka.org
- Grief Interventions for Children with ADHD https://onlinegrad.baylor.edu/resources/grief-interventions-children-adhd/
- Grief Works BC www.griefworks.com
- Hospice Simcoe https://www.hospicesimcoe.ca/
- Lighthouse – Peer Support for Grieving Children, Youth and their Families www.grievingchildrenlighthouse.org
- National Alliance for Grieving Children https://childrengrieve.org
- Theravive https://www.theravive.com/
- The Life Line Canada https://thelifelinecanada.ca/suicide-prevention-resources/survivors-of-suicide-loss/
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