The grief that follows the loss of someone (or something) important in our lives can be catastrophic. Our life seems permanently damaged, and we can begin to feel helpless and without hope. Know that if you’re struggling, grief counselling in Sydney or online can help you find ways to help you deal with what’s happened and find strength and certainty in your life again.
There is NOTHING wrong with YOU.
When our life is permanently changed by loss, we can feel like we’re in quicksand. The more we try to “get over it” the more we feel we’re being swallowed up by emotions we don’t understand and are unable to control. Despair, anger, loneliness, regret, shame, guilt, helplessness …. The feelings that confront us are endless. And they just keep showing up.
Some people also have the added weight of a loss which others don’t recognise. For example, the loss of a pet who you shared your life with, or the loss of a career you spent your whole life building. Maybe you’ve lost your physical abilities to live the life you once did. The types of losses that we deal with during our lifetime are considerable, and when they’re not acknowledged by others, we can feel even more alone and broken inside.
Usually, those around us can be very supportive when we experience a loss. But sooner or later they leave us to get on with our life. That’s painfully hard when we’re still full of despair and feeling numb. It’s hard to imagine moving on from this. The world as we knew it has been destroyed. And making it even harder, is this expectation (from ourselves and others) that we should just “get over it”. The fact that we feel unable to adjust sends us deeper into that dark pit as we begin to believe there’s something wrong with us.
There’s nothing wrong with you. We all deal with grief in our own way and in our own time. There is no right or wrong way. We don’t ever “get over” a loss. The difficulty is in finding ways to navigate any intense emotions we’re experiencing on this grief rollercoaster. The way forward is about finding a meaningful way to integrate the loss into our lives, so that it becomes a valued part of us.
Through therapy, in person or online, we work through your thoughts and emotions, finding meaning in what has happened and learning to incorporate that into our new normal. Grief counselling provides you with the support you need and the tools to cope so you can begin to start living your best life again. As Winnie the Pooh said, “If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.” That’s our plan.
"Happiness is beneficial for the body, but it is grief that develops the powers of the mind."
- Marcel Proust
Starting therapy can be scary, and it's normal to have loads of questions. Please see my FAQs page to get started and feel welcome to contact me if there's anything else you want to know.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Beverley Stewart - Counselling / Psychotherapy / Groups acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.