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Am I crazy?
These are not unusual experiences to have during periods of grief.
Having them does not necessarily mean we are 'crazy.'
- Time Distortion: time seems to move
quickly or slowly, unsure of date or day of week, sense of past/future
seems frozen.
- Obsessive Review or Rumination: telling
story over and over, review events of the loss/memories over and
over.
- Searching for Meaning: trying to
make sense of it, asking 'why' questions, spiritual questions.
- Is Death/Loss God's Will?: asking
questions of the transcendent, wrestling with God.
- Transitional Objects: embracing objects
that belonged to loved one, seeking comfort/remembrance in objects
that belonged to loved one.
- Suicidal Thoughts: thoughts that
come and go where you feel unsure if you can go on living - normal
part of grief; if making plans to kill self - SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY!
- Grief Attacks or Memory Embraces:
memories or feelings of grief triggered by a song, smell, person,
etc.
- Anniversary and Holiday Grief Occasions:
heightened sense of loss on these special dates, plan ahead and
seek support.
- Sudden Changes in Mood: from surviving
fairly well plunging to deep sadness and despair triggered by
anything; be patient and gentle with yourself.
- Identification Symptoms of Physical illness:
similar symptoms to the person who died, normal reaction, way
to feel close to person.
- Powerless and Helplessness: 'if only's'
and 'what if's', feeling out of control.
- Dreams: common to dream about the
person loss, help search for meaning.
- Mystical Experiences: common to see
or experience presence of person who died; don't worry about being
able to rationally explain.
- Loss of Intimacy and Sexuality: part
of grief if the deceased was your partner, common in any significant
loss.
- Drugs and Alcohol: often used to
decrease the pain of loss, can create more problems and gets in
the way of experiencing the pain and mourning.
- Self-Focus: turning inward for protection,
temporary retreat and healing.
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