Experiencing and Managing Grief

Generally, grief occurs following a loss by death, but may follow any separation. The bereaved come to accept the separation and to readjust to the environment in which the deceased is missing through a process called "grief work". James R. Hodge, M.D., Staff Psychiatrist at Akron City Hospital, cites ten symptoms that may be experienced as part of grief. A person may experience each symptom or only a few. Likewise, these symtpoms do not necessarily occur in any particular order. The symptoms will vary according to the individual and the nature of the death. These symptoms were published in Today's Health by the American Medical Association.

"People are forever changed by the experience of grief in their lives. We, as humans, do not 'get over' our grief, but work to reconcile ourselves to living with it. Anyone who attempts to prescribe a specific time frame for the experience only creates another barrier to the healing process.: - Alan Wolfelt, Center For Loss and Life Transition.

Click on the link above titled What May I Experience to read a description of the ten symptoms.