What Is Grief?
Definition
Grief is the internal feelings or emotions of how one processes their loss. The loss experienced involves internal feelings, emotions, and memories that occur after a person passes away or after a non-death-related loss.
A Universal Human Experience
According to Leming and Dickerson (2016), human beings are creatures of emotions and reasoning. We are moved with emotions by those who passed away that are close to us. When faced with loss, we seek comfort and understanding of the truth.
The anthropological approach deals with the culture and studying rituals of how people deal with death and celebrate life. Within every society, death has its way of revealing the cultural values of people’s life and evaluating their experiences.
Reference:
Leming, M. R., & Dickinson, G. E. (2016). Understanding dying, death, and bereavement (8th ed.). CENGAGE Learning Custom Publishing
The Spiritual Dimension of Grief
Do You Have a Sense of Spirituality?
Do you deal with your grief as a spiritual journey?
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18
Some people can become emotionally or physically exhausted from meditating or praying. These feelings could mean anger toward God or feeling guilty about the loss.
Ways to Restore Your Spiritual Practice:
- Have others pray for you
- Write out your prayers
- Be in the presence of God
When you don’t know what to do, consider reading Romans 8:26-27 (Bible: New King James Version).
Common Myths about Grief
Many myths or misconceptions about grief can cause additional worry or pain during an already difficult time:
- Myth: Having a strong Christian or spiritual faith will protect you from grief.
Reality: Faith provides support but doesn’t eliminate grief. - Myth: If you’re strong, you should be able to get through this experience without expressing much emotion.
- Reality: Expressing emotions is a healthy part of grieving.
- Myth: After two to three months, you will be back to normal.
Reality: Grief has no timeline and varies greatly by individual. - Myth: Resolving your grief means forgetting about the deceased in order to move on with your life.
Reality: Healing involves finding ways to remember while moving forward. - Myth: Only immediate family members and best friends will experience significant grief.
Reality: Grief can affect anyone who had a meaningful connection.