Living with Loss: Counseling Services for Grief

“Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith… It is the price of love.”   Queen Elizabeth II 

Bereavement, dealing with loss and grief, is something you can never fully prepare for. I’ve personally gone through the heart-wrenching experience of losing my mother, son, sister, and father within 18 months. The impact was so profound that I found myself numb for over a year, with each day feeling hazy. Despite understanding death, the pain was overwhelming. Grief is a natural response, but when it hits your life, there’s nothing natural or normal about it.

The processes of grief, mourning, and bereavement are unique to each person. Some may experience intense emotions and mourning immediately, while others may have delayed or ongoing grief. Religion and cultural beliefs shape how we approach these experiences.

You might question if you’re grieving or depressed. Grief arises from a significant loss, hurting deeply. It feels like your heart is breaking without physically shattering.

Depression, on the other hand, is like a lingering dark cloud, extending beyond sadness into profound emptiness. While they may seem similar, grief and depression are distinct. In reality, they can coexist.

“Grief changes shape, but it never ends.”   Joanne Rowling

In the unimaginable pain In the unimaginable pain of losing a child, parents face a reality no one should have to endure. Recent global events, from the ongoing pandemic to heartbreaking childhood illnesses, have magnified this sorrow, uniting countless families in the shared experience of bereavement. To those parents carrying the heavy burden of grief, I offer my deepest condolences and a guiding hand to navigate this emotional  territory.

Losing a child defies both reason and words. In a world marked by unpredictability and fragility, where childhood mortality persists despite healthcare advances, we find ourselves challenged in ways we never could have imagined. Each parent’s journey through this heartache is unique, with complex, evolving, and deeply personal feelings.