Bereavement Support In Country Club City, California

Grief is a complicated process that can last months or years when a loved one is nearing the end of life and surrounded by family and friends. Make the most of your time with your loved one in their final days with the help of Melodia Care Hospice, which also provides bereavement support to families. The stages of grief can be less overwhelming if you have a plan for dealing with your emotions as they arise.

Understanding the Grieving Process

There is no one right or healthy way to grieve because the experience of loss manifests itself uniquely in each person. There is also no set timeline for the grieving process, and some people experience grief in waves or intermittent periods of intense emotion rather than as a straightforward process that moves smoothly from one phase to the next. This is because there is no set timeline for the grieving process.

It is common for family members and friends of patients receiving hospice care to experience the first stages of grief before the patient passes away. Caregivers may start to grieve the loss of routines and experiences they once shared with the dying family member due to significant life changes and the anticipation of the upcoming departure, both of which take an emotional toll on the caretakers.

In the late 1960s, a psychologist named Elisabeth Kübler-Ross developed a theory of grieving that describes many of the phases that typically occur during grief. The progression through these phases is not necessarily linear; many people choose not to move on to the next step in the sequence and instead jump ahead or linger in a previous degree. Even if you believe that you have moved on from the feelings associated with your loss, you may find that you return to a particular stage of grief months later.

It is unnecessary to go through grief in a particular way to recover or move on with your life. Still, some people find understanding the typical stages that others go through during this time can be comforting when they are also dealing with a loss. The following is a list of the five stages of grief:

Denial: During this stage, the person who has suffered a loss may try to deny the reality of the situation or act as if it isn’t happening at all. It’s possible for loved ones to fight against the notion that the disease is truly terminal, or they may refuse to believe that the person they care about has passed away for good.
Anger: The phase of grief known as anger can manifest itself in various ways. A member of the family may develop resentment toward the person who is passing away, which can lead to feelings of guilt and sorrow. Anger may also be directed at the physicians or other medical staff members who are caring for the loved one who is passing away. Sometimes, members of a grieving family become angry at God or fate. Working through this kind of anger can be made more accessible with the assistance of a spiritual counselor, priest, or chaplain.
Bargaining: During the bargaining phase, a family member may attempt to make deals in the hopes of keeping their loved one alive or resurrecting the individual after they have died. Bargaining may involve prayers that promise good behavior in exchange for a miracle or pleading with medical professionals to save a loved one in exchange for financial compensation.
Depression: Depression typically sets in after the realization that mental efforts to save a loved one have been futile. The depression phase of grief can feel overpowering, and people going through this phase typically spend a lot of time crying, feeling sad, and thinking about the person who passed away. During this phase, they may also remember the person who passed away.
Acceptance: The final stage of the grieving process is acceptance, which occurs when the individual begins to fully comprehend that their loved one has passed away and begins to look for ways to remember and celebrate their loved one’s life without being overpowered by sadness. Acceptance comes at the end of the grieving process.

Self-Help Strategies for Coping With Grief

Moving through the stages of grief can be challenging at times. Some people have developed specific strategies that have helped them work through other difficulties in life, and these strategies may also be helpful when working through the problem of losing a loved one. Take a look at some of the following suggestions for coping with loss:

Sharing your feelings: Sharing with friends how you are coping with the loss can help lighten the load you are carrying. Inform your friends that you are not looking for their advice or answers and that you simply want to talk about how you are feeling or remember the person who has passed away.
Keeping a journal: Not only does keeping a journal of your emotions and thoughts help you work through your grief, but it also acts as a record of your development as you move through the stages of grief. You can gain insight into the fact that your bereavement is a process that is ongoing by reflecting on how your perspective of the loss has evolved.
Getting creative: Creativity can be expressed, and intense feelings can be processed through activities such as playing music, making crafts, or making art.
Setting aside time to grieve: Putting aside time on a daily calendar to suffer may seem counterintuitive, but it can help you work through complicated feelings. Find a safe space where you can express your grief without worrying about what others will think of you. It’s okay to cry, scream, or act out in any other way that helps you cope with your loss.
Avoid making significant changes in your life: If you’ve recently suffered a devastating loss, trying to keep your routine as normal as possible is essential. Until you have had time to process your loss, it may be best to put off making any significant life changes, such as a job move or a change of residence.
Exercising regularly: Consider incorporating more physical activity into your routine to release pent-up emotions and gain perspective during this time of loss. A brisk walk or run outdoors can help you center your thoughts and feelings while punching and kicking a punching bag can help you release pent-up rage and frustration over your loss.
Participating in social activities: Grief can consume you if you spend too much time alone, so make plans to see friends for lunch or join a support group.
Taking refuge in your religious practices: Grief counseling may be helpful if you regularly attend religious services. To deal with the spiritual aspects of loss, you can also engage in private prayer, meditation, or listening to religious music.
Reminiscing healthily: Your positive associations with the deceased can help ease your pain. Take time to remember your loved one by looking at old photos, reading letters or messages they left behind, or watching videos from their life. Speaking aloud or writing letters to the deceased can be cathartic and help you keep a connection with them even after they are gone.
Memorialize your loved one: If the grieving person had a solid connection to a particular cause or charity, you might want to consider working for the organization in question or donating in their honor.
Spending time with pets: Pets can help grieving people by providing unconditional love and comfort. Volunteering at a local animal shelter to walk dogs or socialize kittens in preparation for adoption is an excellent option if you don’t have any pets.
Joining a grief support group: Grief is a shared experience, and being around others who have recently suffered a similar loss can be comforting. Depending on the cause of death, such as cancer or heart disease, you may be able to find a local support group for bereaved families.

Grief Counseling and Professional Bereavement Therapy

It’s not always possible to get through a loss with just the help of yourself. In most cases, feelings of grief develop and shift over time. Even though things will never be the same as before a loved one passed away, you will learn to channel your grief over time.

Professional bereavement counseling may be a helpful resource if you find yourself struggling to cope with your loss. The following are some warning signs that your grief may be causing problems that are too much for you to handle alone:

Having trouble sleeping
Loss of appetite over a long period
Feelings of worthlessness or helplessness
Neglecting personal care and household tasks
Feeling unable to return to work or do regular activities months or years after the initial loss
Suicidal thoughts

If you feel you cannot handle your grief on your own, seek the help of a licensed mental health professional in your area. A psychologist or counselor can help you find methods to cope with your grief at any stage. You can find bereavement counseling that works for you by choosing between individual sessions and larger groups.

Those closest to our hospice patients can count on extensive grief support from Melodia Care Hospice because we know how challenging the bereavement process can be. Contact us right away if you need any more details.