Grief and Loss

Grief is the natural response to loss, encompassing the emotional, physical, cognitive, and spiritual reactions we experience when someone or something important to us is gone. While grief is most commonly associated with the death of a loved one, it can arise from many types of loss including the end of a relationship, loss of health or physical ability, career changes or job loss, life transitions, or the loss of hopes and expectations for the future.

What is Grief?

Grief is a deeply personal experience that unfolds differently for each person. There is no "right" way to grieve, no predictable timeline, and no standard progression through stages. Some people experience intense waves of emotion, while others feel numb or detached. Grief can be exhausting, disorienting, and all-consuming, yet it is fundamentally a reflection of love and connection.

While grief is a normal human experience, it can sometimes become complicated or prolonged, interfering significantly with daily functioning and quality of life. You may find yourself unable to accept the loss, feeling stuck in intense grief long after others expect you to have "moved on," or experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety that make it difficult to engage with life. You might struggle with guilt, anger, or a sense that life has lost its meaning.

Grief doesn't follow a neat path. It can resurface unexpectedly—triggered by anniversaries, holidays, sensory reminders, or seemingly random moments. Many people describe grief as coming in waves that can feel manageable one day and overwhelming the next. Over time, for most people, the intensity and frequency of these waves gradually diminish, though grief may never disappear entirely.

Common Experiences in Grief

Emotional responses may include:

• Deep sadness, yearning, or longing

• Anger or irritability toward others, oneself, or the deceased

• Guilt or regret about things said or unsaid, done or undone

• Anxiety or fear about the future

• Relief, particularly after a prolonged illness or difficult relationship

• Numbness or feeling emotionally disconnected

• Moments of joy or laughter that may be followed by guilt

Physical symptoms may include:

• Fatigue or exhaustion

• Changes in appetite or weight

• Sleep disturbances or nightmares

• Physical heaviness or chest tightness

• Restlessness or difficulty sitting still

• Headaches or other pain

• Weakened immune system or increased illness

Cognitive changes may include:

• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

• Forgetfulness or mental fog

• Preoccupation with thoughts of the person or loss

• Difficulty believing the loss is real

• Searching for meaning or trying to make sense of what happened

• Intrusive memories or thoughts

Behavioral changes may include:

• Withdrawing from social connections

• Avoiding reminders of the loss or conversely seeking them out

• Changes in work performance or motivation

• Increased use of alcohol or substances

• Difficulty engaging in previously enjoyed activities

• Taking on the mannerisms or interests of the deceased

Spiritual questioning may include:

• Questioning beliefs about life, death, or meaning

• Feeling disconnected from faith or spiritual community

• Anger toward God or the universe

• Searching for signs or connection with the deceased

• Profound existential questions about purpose and mortality

My Approach to Treatment

I provide compassionate, individualized support for people navigating grief and loss, honoring each person's unique experience while helping them move through grief in a way that feels meaningful and sustainable.

Comprehensive Assessment: I provide thorough psychiatric evaluations that explore the nature and circumstances of your loss, your grief responses and how they're affecting your life, your support system and coping resources, prior experiences with loss and trauma, and signs of complicated grief, depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns that may benefit from treatment.

Creating Space for Grief: Grief needs to be witnessed and validated. I provide a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can express the full range of your feelings—sadness, anger, guilt, relief, or confusion—without fear of being told you should feel differently or that you should be "over it" by now. I honor your relationship with what or whom you've lost while supporting you in finding a way forward.

Therapeutic Support: I incorporate approaches that support healing and integration of loss, including processing the story of your loss and its meaning, working through complicated feelings like guilt, anger, or ambivalence, exploring your continuing bond with the deceased or what was lost, addressing trauma if the loss was sudden or violent, and helping you navigate identity changes that often accompany significant loss.

Medication Management: While grief itself is not an illness requiring medication, it can trigger or coexist with depression, anxiety, insomnia, or other conditions that do benefit from psychiatric medication. I carefully assess whether symptoms represent normal grief or a co-occurring mental health condition and provide medication management when appropriate to restore your capacity to grieve and function.

Addressing Complicated Grief: For some people, grief becomes persistent and debilitating, preventing them from re-engaging with life. If you're experiencing prolonged grief disorder or complicated grief, I provide targeted treatment to help you process the loss, reduce intense yearning and preoccupation, and gradually rebuild meaningful engagement with life while maintaining connection to your loved one or what was lost.

Holistic and Contextual Care: Grief occurs within the context of your relationships, culture, spiritual beliefs, and life circumstances. Treatment may involve helping family members or friends understand your grief process, connecting you with grief support groups or communities, honoring cultural or spiritual practices around death and mourning, and addressing practical challenges related to the loss. I collaborate with therapists, spiritual advisors, or other providers when helpful.

Supporting Growth Through Grief: While grief is painful, many people eventually find that it deepens their capacity for compassion, clarifies what matters most, or leads to unexpected growth. I support you in honoring your loss while gradually rediscovering meaning, purpose, and connection. The goal is not to "get over" grief but to integrate it into your life in a way that allows you to carry your loss while still fully living.

Getting Started

If you're struggling with grief and finding it difficult to navigate daily life, or if you're concerned that your grief has become complicated or prolonged, I offer comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and compassionate ongoing care.

To schedule an appointment, please call or email my practice. I look forward to supporting you through this difficult time.