The 12-Part Grief Series

Whatever type of loss you’ve suffered, there’s no right or wrong way to grieve. But, by understanding the stages and types of grief, you can find healthier ways to cope.

What is grief?
Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional suffering you feel when something or someone you love is taken away. Often, the pain of loss can feel overwhelming. You may experience all kinds of difficult and unexpected emotions, from shock and anger to disbelief, guilt, and profound sadness. The pain of grief can also disrupt your physical health, making it difficult to sleep, eat, or even think straight. These are normal reactions to loss—and the more significant the loss, the more intense your grief will be.

Coping with the loss of someone or something you love is one of life’s biggest challenges. You may associate grieving with the death of a loved one—which is often the cause of the most intense type of grief—but any loss can cause grief, including: divorce or relationship breakup, losing a job, loss of financial liability, retirement, death of a pet, loss of a dream, loss of a friendship or even selling a family home. Whatever your loss, it’s personal to you, so don’t feel ashamed about how you feel, or believe that it’s somehow only appropriate to grieve for certain things. If the person, animal, relationship, or situation was significant to you, it’s normal to grieve the loss you’re experiencing.

Best Care EAP’s 12-part series can help. Written by Amy Monzingo, MS, LMHP, LMHC, Best Care EAP counselor, this series deals with all kinds off issues individuals go through on their grief journey. Topics are listed below. Whatever the cause of your grief, there are healthy ways to cope with the pain that, in time, can ease your sadness and help you come to terms with your loss and eventually move on with your life.

• Part 1: I'm Suffering From Heartache
• Part 2: My Caregiver Role is Over, Now What?
• Part 3: I Don't Want to Talk to Anyone
• Part 4: I Am So Angry
• Part 5: I Can't Imagine the Holidays Now That My Loved One is Gone
• Part 6:  How Do I Get Past the Guilt?
• Part 7:  I Still Talk to My Loved One
• Part 8: Memories are Painful
• Part 9: People Think I Should Be Grieving Faster Than I Am
• Part 10: What Do I Do With My Loved One's Things?
• Part 11: What Stage of Grief Am I In?
• Part 12: How Do I Handle Special Days?

As always, if you need additional help along any part of your grief journey, Best Care EAP counselors are available. Give us a call at (402) 354-4000, (800) 801-4182 or reach out using out contact form. Additional grief articles and resources can be found in the Resource Hub.