Grief and Loss

Here at 70 West Counseling, we understand the pain of grief and loss. Whether you're dealing with the loss of a loved one, going through a divorce, losing a job, or experiencing any other form of loss, our compassionate counselors are here to walk alongside you as you navigate through your pain.

What is Grief?

Grief is a natural human response to loss and can be a complex and varied experience. People encounter loss following any significant change in their familiar lifestyle, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or breakup—positive events such as marriage or retirement can also leave us grieving what we had before that event. Recovery from alcohol, drug, or food addictions can also lead people into the grieving cycle as they recover from the loss of a habit that has consumed so much of their lives. Although some of your life experiences may not seem like grieving events, we grieve for all the emotionally significant relationships in our lives.

At some point in their life, everyone will experience grief and loss. Grief is both universal and incredibly individual. How you react or cope with loss is unique; therefore, it is impossible to measure how much one should spend grieving. The grieving journey is one of our society’s most avoided and misunderstood life processes. Societal expectations and discomfort on how you move through and deal with the intense emotional pain of grief can leave you feeling alone; which leaves most people at a loss when it comes to handling grief and loss in a healthy manner.

Dealing With Grief

When drifting through the grieving process, many people seek comfort from different resources, whether books, workshops, the internet, or support groups. People seeking support from these resources often come up short, feeling that society is not as understanding as they hoped, resulting in isolation, feeling misunderstood, and leaving their grief unresolved. Grief is normal, and how we respond to grief is individual. Most people are ill-equipped to deal with their intense grief, while the discomfort felt by those close to you can cause them to withdraw, leading to feelings of isolation and abandonment for the person who is grieving.

Grieving is a process that affects everyone differently, and for some, it can take many years to resolve. Grief can be exhausting and emotionally draining, leading to depression if left unchecked.

If you are reading this, it means you are open to facing your grief in an effort to move forward with your life. Seeking professional help and support from a 70 West Counselor is a step in the right direction.