The
Experience
of Grief
People
have many different responses to grief. This is a list of commonly
experienced feelings, thoughts, physical sensations and
behaviours,
which describes a broad range of normal responses. Not all responses
will be experienced during a loss.
Feelings:
Shock
Numbness
Sadness
Anger
Guilt
Anxiety
Loneliness
Edginess
and irritability
Fear
Fatigue
Yearning
Relief
Thoughts:
Disbelief
Confusion
Disorientation
Preoccupation
Visions
of
deceased
Sense
of presence of
deceased
Physical
Symptoms:
Lack
of energy
Digestive
upsets
Nausea
Irregular
heartbeat
Breathlessness
Weakness
in the muscles
Hollowness
in
the stomach
Tightness
in
the chest
Oversensitivity
to
noise
Sense
of unreality
Sexual
disturbances
Behaviours:
Crying
-
sometimes uncontrollably for long periods
Sleep
disturbance
Appetite
disturbances
Absentmindedness
Social
withdrawal from other people
Dreaming
of the deceased
Avoidance
of reminders of the deceased person
Searching
for deceased
Sighing
and pining
Restless
over activity
Treasuring
objects belonging to the deceased
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