The Session: Honoring National Grief Awareness Day

The Session with Tom Russell

The Session: National Grief Awareness Day (Aug. 30) We honor this day with a conversation about dealing with grief, and the 5 stages of grief.

II Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God"

Dr. Gregory Jantz-Whole Person Care

Multiple Causes

Grief can take many forms, from the death of a loved one to divorce, job loss, or chronic illness.

Emotions or feelings of grief can include sadness, denial, despair, shock, guilt, numbness, relief, helplessness, and/or anger. Many grief sufferers also experience anxiety or depression, which can vary in its longevity.

Body’s reaction to grief

When you’re grieving, different hormones and neurochemicals flood your brain. This can result in symptoms like disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, fatigue and anxiety, all of which can have a big impact on your brain function.

Cortisol (sometimes called the “stress hormone”) is often released more frequently and in higher quantities during grief, in particular over the six months after the loss of a loved one.

The five stages of grief is a model of grief developed by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a Swiss-American psychiatrist.

The 5 Stages of Grief

Denial

The time it takes to process the loss of a loved one means there is a lag between learning the information about their passing and your brain beginning to process what this really means – that they are not coming back.

This type of shock can also make you feel very disconnected from the rest of the world. It can be incredibly confusing to see life carrying on around you while you feel as though your world has stopped turning.

Anger

Feelings of anger can surface after a death in several different ways. You may feel angry towards the person who has died, or anger at yourself if you feel you should have done or not done certain things before they died. You could feel both of those feelings simultaneously

Bargaining

By making deals with yourself, the world, or with God, the reality of death can be held at bay for a little longer. It’s also a way to try to get some control over what has happened, hoping that by holding up our end of the bargain is a way to feel less pain.

Depression

This stage is perhaps the most familiar to those who’ve experienced grief and to those who have witnessed it. Living without your loved one can feel impossible, and the sadness and longing can be very intensely painful. The depression stage often comes in waves over months or years, leaving the bereaved feeling as though nothing matters, and even that life is not worth living.

Acceptance

While grief can leave people feeling like they will never be able to accept the loss of their loved one, many people do find the pain eases.

Treatment from Scripture:

• Matthew 5:4: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
• Psalm 73:26: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
• Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

• Psalm 34

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.