Common Grieving Events
• Death of a parent • Death of a child• Death of sibling• Death of a spouse or partner• Marital separation• Marital reconciliation• Divorce (self)• Divorce (parents) • Death of a close friend• Freedom (Imprisonment) • Personal injury (loss of limb)• Health (Illness)• Employment (Dismissal from work)• Retirement• Pregnancy• Sexual difficulties• Business readjustment• Change in financial state• Change to different line of work• Change in frequency of arguments• Foreclosure of mortgage or loan• Change in responsibilities at work• Child leaving home (empty nest)• Spouse starts or stops work• Begin or end of school• Change in living conditions• Revision of personal habits• Destruction due to fire• Change in working hours or conditions• Change in residence• Children leaving home (Empty Nest)• Change in schools• Change in recreation• Change in church activities• Change in social activities• Control over one’s body
• Homelessness• Trust• Approval• Safety• Decision making
Most of those are obvious losses that we grieve. There are many others as well. For instance:
Children experience grief as well. A child often feels a terrible loss over the death of a pet, whether it’s a cat or dog, turtle, fish, bird, or any other pet, the loss may trigger sadness in the child. They feel the loss of a friend that moved, the parent who does not live at home after a divorce, and the death of a grandparent(s). They also experience a loss when special toys or broken or given away.
Many non-custodial parents feel a loss after their weekend or holiday with their child.
I remember when I got cancer. First, I experienced the loss of my healthy body. Secondly, I lost physical energy due to large doses of chemo several times a week. Then I felt a loss of femineity when I lost my hair. But I also felt the loss of the hair. I loved having long hair, so that was a huge loss. I experienced the pain of losing the ability to work the six months I received chemo and then a transplant. Twice. Of course, I not only lost income, but I had to use all of my savings for the initial tests that determined whether I had cancer. My financial savings was a huge loss. I also lost the status of being a strong, physically healthy single woman by my closest friends. They were treating me as though I was a victim, a role I would never condone for myself.
Losses come in many ways. Grieving is necessary in order to move on. It's not fun, but necessary. If you have bottled up emotions because of your loss, a therapist can help you through the process.
Feel free to contact me.
A list of some common greiving events. Click here.