Navigating Grief After a Loss: What You’re Feeling Makes Sense
Grief Doesn’t Follow a Straight Line
Grief is one of the most human experiences we go through — and yet it often leaves us feeling incredibly alone. Whether you’ve lost a loved one, a pregnancy, a relationship, a home, a sense of identity, or a future you imagined, grief has a way of touching every part of life.
It doesn’t move in predictable stages. It doesn’t follow a timeline. It doesn’t look the same for any two people.
What you’re feeling makes sense, even if it feels confusing, heavy, or hard to put into words.
How Grief Can Show Up
Grief affects your emotions, your body, and your day-to-day life. It’s not just sadness — it’s an entire emotional landscape.
Emotional Experiences
Waves of sadness
Anger or irritability
Guilt, regret, or wishing things were different
Numbness or feeling disconnected
Anxiety or fear about the future
Moments of joy that feel confusing or “wrong”
There’s no “right” way to grieve. Your emotions may change from hour to hour, and that’s normal.
Physical Experiences
Exhaustion
Changes in appetite
Tightness in the chest or stomach
Restlessness or difficulty sleeping
Feeling slowed down or foggy
Grief is not only emotional — your body feels it too.
Changes in Daily Life
Forgetfulness or trouble concentrating
Pulling away from others
Feeling overwhelmed by small tasks
A loss of motivation or interest in things you used to enjoy
These reactions aren’t signs that you’re “not coping.” They’re signs that your mind and body are trying to adjust to a painful change.
Different Types of Loss, Same Valid Grief
Grief isn’t limited to death. You may be grieving:
A breakup or the end of a friendship
A pregnancy loss
A relationship with someone who is still alive
A major life transition
A part of yourself or your identity
A dream, opportunity, or future you imagined
Your grief is valid, even if others don’t understand it. Even if it feels “small” compared to what other people have gone through. Even if you’re not sure how to talk about it.
How Counselling Can Support You Through Grief
You don’t have to carry this alone. Counselling can give you space to feel, remember, process, and heal — gently and at your own pace.
Making Room for Your Emotions
Sometimes grief gets pushed down because the world expects you to “move on” quickly. Therapy provides a space where everything you’re feeling is welcomed, not judged.
Understanding Your Grief Pattern
We explore how grief is showing up for you — emotionally, physically, and relationally — so you can understand your reactions instead of feeling overwhelmed by them.
Finding Ways to Cope Day-to-Day
You don’t need to be “strong” all the time. Together, we find gentle coping strategies that help you get through the hard moments.
Honouring Your Loss
Healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means learning to carry your loss with compassion and integrating it into your life in a way that feels meaningful.
If You’re Grieving, You’re Not Broken
Grief can make you feel unlike yourself — forgetful, irritable, numb, sensitive, overwhelmed, or exhausted. None of this means you’re broken. It means you’re human.
Grief is love with nowhere to go. It changes shape over time, but it doesn’t disappear.
You’re allowed to take things slowly. You’re allowed to need support. You’re allowed to feel what you feel — even the parts that don’t make sense yet.
When You Might Consider Reaching Out
Counselling may be helpful if you’re noticing:
Your grief feels heavy or confusing
You’re struggling to talk to others about your loss
Daily tasks feel overwhelming
You feel disconnected, numb, or unlike yourself
You’re experiencing anxiety or panic along with grief
You want a safe place to process without judgment
You don’t have to navigate this alone. Support can help you feel grounded again.
Grief is not something you’re meant to “get over.” It’s something you learn to carry with time, support, compassion, and understanding. You deserve space to feel, remember, and heal — at your own pace.
Whenever you’re ready, I’m here.