What is grief? Grief is all of the thoughts, feelings and reactions we have when a special person in our life dies. Grief is a strong, sometimes overwhelming emotion for people, regardless of whether their sadness stems from the loss of a loved one or from a terminal diagnosis they or someone they love have received. People might find themselves feeling numb and removed from daily life, unable to carry on with regular duties while saddled with their sense of loss.  Grief is the natural reaction to loss. Some examples of loss include:

• The death of a loved one.

• The ending of an important relationship.

• Job loss.

• Loss through theft.

• The loss of independence through disability.

Unfortunately, we cannot control the process and prepare for the varying stages of grief. However, understanding why you or your child is suffering can help by talking to a therapist/counselor to resolve issues that cause significant emotional pain such as feeling guilty for a loved one’s death. Counseling can also help people to recover and/or adjust to a death or diagnosis of a terminal illness.