 Bereavement - How Long Will It Last?
Again, there is no prescribed way to grieve. You
will grieve according to your needs. A person's timetable of grief depends
on many factors, including the closeness of the relationship, experience
with previous losses, and even personality.
One thing that is
known about the length of grief, however, is that it needs expression in
order to be resolved. Many of us know someone who experienced the death
of a loved one years ago and has never worked through the grief.
When
people "shelve" grief, by not talking about it and trying to put it out
of their minds, they simply postpone healing. Grief is like a wound. If it is not tended, it will
become infected. Unresolved grief can lead to physical, emotional, and
relationship problems. Working through grief is not always talking, although
this is an effective means for most of us. Grief can be expressed through
journaling, sports, music, and even art. Working through grief means taking
the feelings that are pent up inside of us and getting them out through
expression in healthy ways.
Cleaning an infected wound is painful, but necessary
to healing. Grief is the same. We must express those painful emotions in
order to "clean out" our hearts. Once we do, the precious memories of our
loved one remain and grow clearer.
|
