Media Release - Loss and Grief Awareness Week  

31^st  August – 6^th September 2008

Grief and loss is one aspect of life none of us can avoid. At some stage each one of us will have to confront the emotions of some form of loss.

This week focuses our attention on the many forms of loss we can all experience and gives us the opportunity to think about how it impacts on us and others we know.

Grieving is how we adapt to the loss or changed circumstances in our lives, and is a normal part of life.

We all experience a number of losses during our lifetime and there are many different types of loss.

There are major losses such as the death of a loved one. A sudden death, death of a child, or suicide can lead to a different type of grieving as these deaths are outside the “normal” life cycle. 

The break up of a marriage or relationship, which also involves the loss of hopes and dreams, can involve a lot of hurt and anger as part of the grieving process.

There are other important losses such as the loss of employment, which impacts on identity, status and financial security, or the loss of health which leaves us with changed abilities, or the loss of role, (e.g. when our children leave home, and we may feel not needed any more as parents) or as we age, the loss of some physical abilities.

There is no one way to cope with grieving. Some people like to talk, others prefer to keep their own counsel. Some cope by keeping busy others by withdrawing. We all have our own timelines for grieving. We need to look at grieving as a process, as we understand and try to adapt to the loss in our lives and try and make some meaning of it. These changes are not always negative.   We can learn and be amazed at our own strengths in surviving the tough times.

It is advisable to seek medical help or counselling if you are having prolonged sleep disturbances, suicidal thoughts, a prolonged sense of guilt or a sense of hopelessness that just wont go away, if you are starting to abuse drugs or alcohol to cope or if you are unable to keep on functioning in your usual role.

Mitchell Community Health has counsellors who can help you through the grieving process.  If you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed, please phone our Intake Worker on 5784 5555.