The life you knew has suddenly vanished.
Whether it’s a heart-wrenching loss of a loved one, or the loss of something you held near and dear, loss rocks us to the core. Loss is hard enough, but when something happens out of the blue, it adds yet another layer of pain and anguish. Sudden deaths like death by suicide, fatal accidents, crime, and unexpected health crisis are a few examples. When you think back to the moment that changed you forever, it feels like a lightning bolt splitting you in two. When you realize the dream for the future is gone or looks very different than expected, it feels like your life has shattered into a million pieces.
We can run the gamut of emotions while grieving for sure- shock, despair, guilt, depression, anger, fear, or even relief just to name a few. You may have read about stages of grief or heard other people talk about their own experiences. Even though grief and loss is part of the human experience, it is unique and complex for everyone. Try to give yourself grace, compassion, and time to heal and adjust to this new chapter. I know this is way easier said than done!
Obviously we grieve deaths of loved ones, but we can also go through the same stages and emotions when we lose relationships, careers or jobs, pets, moving from one stage of life to another such as entering parenthood or retirement, medical or health diagnoses, or relocations. We may not initially think about the adjustment to these changes in life as loss, but we definitely can experience them that way.
