1. Coping With Loss and Grief
Lesson 3
Coping With Loss and Grief

2. Acknowledging Loss Everyone will experience loss and grief
Grieving is a natural and common reaction to any loss that brings strong emotions
Immediately following a loss you may feel as if your life won’t be the same and you won’t recover
Acknowledging and understanding grief will help you begin the healing process and help you to cope with the loss and manage your feelings

3. Expressing Grief
The Grieving Process includes stages of grief- variety of reactions that may surface as an individual makes sense of how a loss affects him or her
Denial or Numbness
Emotional Release
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Remorse
Acceptance (closure=acceptance of a loss)
Hope

4. Coping With Death One of the most painful losses to experience
If the death was sudden or unexpected the survivors may experience shock
People respond to loss by mourning-the act of showing sorrow or grief
Mourning includes: talking about the person, experience the pain and loss and search for meaning.

5. Showing Empathy Grieving alone makes process more difficult
Ways to show support to someone who is grieving:
Help the person recall happy and positive memories
Be a sympathetic listener
Don’t rush the grieving process or attempt to resolve the person’s grief in a day

6. Community Support Cultural background influences grieving process
Mourning rituals generally take place to help celebrate the life of the person who died
Telling stories or describing why the person was special can help you in grieving process

7. Coping with Traumatic Events
Any event that has a stressful impact sufficient to overwhelm your normal coping strategies
They are sudden and shocking
After the even occurred, you may question your sense of security and confidence
Seek support to help manage your shock and grief
Try resuming your normal activities also aides in grieving process