Shedding Light on Four Common Grief Misconceptions
Posted by: Erin Ward in Grief and Guidance | July 8, 2021
Grief is complicated to define since the experience is different for everyone. Many people also aren’t well educated about the grieving process since death is an uncomfortable topic, so they haven't talked about it. For these reasons, there are many misconceptions about grief out there.
To shed some light on the truth behind some grief misconceptions, let’s go over a few common ones.
Grief happens in the same stages for everyone.
According to the Kubler-Ross grief model, there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. However, there are mixed feelings about this model since not everyone goes through the stages in that order. Some people may even experience a stage multiple times or not experience a stage at all. It’s different from person to person.
There is only one type of grief.
There are many different grief types out there, as there are many different types of losses. A person’s relationship to the deceased, their support system, and how the deceased died are just a few things that can affect how someone grieves a loss.
To learn more about some different grief types, check out these blog posts:
There is only one correct way to grieve.
There are many healthy ways to grieve a loss. Just keep in mind that what works for one person may not work for you, as everyone has different personalities and interests. It’s all about finding what works for you.
To give you some ideas, below are a few suggestions:
- Make a memento to honor your loved one’s memory.
- Join a grief support group.
- Talk to a professional grief counselor.
- Go for a walk or bike ride.
- Listen to music.
Grief only affects someone mentally.
Grief affects you physically and mentally, so it’s important that you practice self-care activities for both a healthy body and mind.
According to WebMD, these are some physical grief symptoms that you may experience:
- Headaches
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Stomach aches
- Tiredness
What other grief misconceptions have you heard? Share them in the comments.
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