Helping to deal with the impact of loss

Grief affects us all at one time or another in our lives-whether it be due to the death of a loved one or some other form of loss.

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"It is a normal emotion we feel as a response to loss," says Claire Collins, a bereavement coordinator with Marie Curie (www. mariecurie.org.uk).

"Throughout our lives we experience many different types of loss, such as relationship breakdowns, redundancy, financial, health and the death of a loved one.

"These losses can often lead to a further series of losses."

WHAT ARE THE COMMON SYMPTOMS OF GRIEF?

"Many symptoms of grief can be experienced after the loss of a loved one," says Claire. "The emotional responses include shock, numbness, denial, isolation, loneliness, sadness, anger, despair, emptiness, helplessness, fear and anxiety.

"We cannot 'see' these emotions, but there may be more obvious physical symptoms such as disrupted sleep (sleeping more or inability to sleep), loss of appetite, tearfulness, lethargy, panic attacks, increased susceptibility to colds and illness. These responses to loss are normal and do not last forever.

"Our social context can also be affected as social circles may change, finances and housing may be impacted by the loss. Spiritually, we may experience a crisis in faith or a struggle to find meaning, both a meaning in life and a meaning in death."

DOES EVERYONE EXPERIENCE GRIEF IN THE SAME WAY?