Grief

What is Grief?
Grief is the painful emotional state that occurs following the loss of a close friend or family member. As human beings, close relationships regulate our physical and psychological well being. In other words, our relationships can affect our bodies as well as our minds. Therefore, when someone close to us dies, both our bodies and minds react to the loss as a threat. Grief is the natural way of coping with this threat.

• feel strong emotions, such as sadness and anger
• have physical reactions, such as not sleeping or even waves of nausea
• have spiritual reactions to a death — for example, some people find themselves questioning their beliefs and feeling disappointed in their religion while others find that they feel more strongly than ever about their faith

Grief is not a disease but it can become one. Grieving individuals are at greater risk for infections, cardiac problems, more frequent doctor visits, alcohol abuse and depression. In fact, research has shown that if left untreated, depression that follows grief can still be present two years later. Another problem occurs when grief is blocked, and "traumatic grief", similar to post-traumatic stress disorder, can develop.


More research links:
Death and Grief
Death, Grief and Suffering
Suffering and Grief
Suffering from Grief
Grief Information
Grief Recovery