Grief is a feeling that flows through us completely and changes everything – difficult, strong, and in many ways impossible to describe.
Many may experience it as suddenly living in a different world. And although grief is individual, everyone who has experienced it knows that it is something other than just being sad. Grief is a deep pain felt throughout the body.
The grief that affects those who have lost a loved one has an unparalleled strength. But one should not underestimate the grief that also affects us after other types of losses in life. For all the grief one feels is the pain of losing something very precious.
When you have lost something, or feel that something is about to be lost – but also when you need to take a step away from something that has become destructive – it is important to ensure a proper closure, to say a clear goodbye to the object or phenomenon with the help of a final farewell. Because it is only when the loss has been confirmed that the important process of grieving can begin.
Grief work
Grief work is a good term, as grieving is an active process that must be given both time and energy. Grief is not something you “get over” or can go around. You have to go through it. When something has been lost forever, it is a process to come to acceptance. At the same time, you grow as a person. Many testify that every experience of grief, regardless of how big or small it is, gives life a greater depth.
People deal with their grief in different ways. But what is certain is that without human support, the process of grieving becomes harder. You need someone to listen or just be there. It can be family and friends. But you may also need to seek out someone who professionally works to provide support in grief. So do not hesitate to seek help in the important process of grieving.
Reading about grief
Almost everything written about grief deals with the process of grieving after a loved one has passed away. As previously mentioned, this grief is not completely comparable to the grief after, for example, an artifact or institution that has served its purpose, but the similarities are more than the differences. On 1177 Vårdguiden, there is easily accessible information about grief and grief reactions. The book Handbok om sorg, av Agneta Grimby och Åsa K Johansson (only in swedish) can also serve as a tool in the process of grieving in general.
Someone to talk to
The associations that work for increased knowledge about grief and grief reactions are primarily focused on grief after a loved one has passed away and are generally not available to help with the grieving process after more worldly losses.
However, you can always contact us at Ars Moriendi. We have experts in grief counseling that you can turn to with all your questions and concerns about all kinds of grieving processes.
