Title: Bereavement and Grief | Mental Health America
Headings: Bereavement and Grief
Bereavement and Grief
Coping With Loss
Knowing What to Expect
Mourning A Loved One
Dealing with a Major Loss
Living with Grief
Helping Others Grieve
Helping Children Grieve
Looking to the Future

Content: Your grief is likely to be expressed physically, emotionally, and psychologically. For instance, crying is a physical expression, while depression is a psychological expression. It is very important to allow yourself to express these feelings. Often, death is a subject that is avoided, ignored or denied. At first it may seem helpful to separate yourself from the pain, but you cannot avoid grieving forever. Someday those feelings will need to be resolved or they may cause physical or emotional illness. Many people report physical symptoms that accompany grief. Stomach pain, loss of appetite, intestinal upsets, sleep disturbances and loss of energy are all common symptoms of acute grief. Of all life's stresses, mourning can seriously test your natural defense systems. Existing illnesses may worsen or new conditions may develop.