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"No one ever told me that grief felt so much like
fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness,
the yawning. I keep on swallowing. At other times it feels like being mildly drunk or concussed. There is a sort of invisible
blanket between the world and me. I find it hard to take in what anyone says. Or perhaps, hard to want to take it in.
- C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed 8 things to think about immediately following a traumatic loss:
Funeral
arrangements will need to made soon. Religious observances may need to be communicated to the authorities and those handling
the body of your loved one as soon as possible. Be sensitive to the input of those closest to your loved one when making
arrangements, but keep the number of decisions to a minimum. Talk to the police further. Other
difficult things you may be called upon to do: Identifying
the body will be emotionally difficult. Have someone go with you. If you are a witness, police and
others may need to question you. Make
priorities for what is most important right now and don't do less important things. You may need to reclaim personal
belongings. Dealing with other legal matters related to the death: The funeral director will obtain the death certificate and help you determine
how many copies to ask for. If a will exists, locate
it immediately. Begin dealing with the associated
costs of the death. Begin filing insurance and other
related claims. Don't make life-changing decisions
right away or without consulting with a trusted person. You
may want to consider a memorial gift or request contributions in your loved one's memory. (Excerpts from What to Do When
The Police Leave: A Guide for the First Days of Traumatic Loss by Bill Jenkins) Whenever someone receives news of a sudden and tragic loss the body responds
physically and emotionally. You body goes through automatic changes in order to enable you to cope with the trauma. These
responses happen automatically which means that it may feel out of your control, which may be scary if you don't know that
it is normal. Most happen to others some may only happen to you. Some responses last for a short time and others for a longer
time. Some occur one at a time and others all at once. Many professionals agree that there may be 5 responses that often accompany traumatic loss:
Please
don't push yourself to move faster than you already are going. You will probably not have the strength to do certain things
at this time, so don't. If you have to do something enlist help from a trusted person. Your mind and body are slowly adjusting
to the reality of this tragedy. Many
talk about an intense yearning for their loved one. You may have an overwhelming feeling of wanting and needing them back,
even if for one brief moment. Many share how they expect them to call, walk through the door at anytime. Joan Didion
who wrote the Year of Magical Thinking (following the sudden death of her husband) kept his shoes by the front door knowing
that at any moment he would walk through the front door and need his shoes.You may call out to them, have dreams of them or
have nightmares. You may decide to not touch any of their things. Please take your time if you can on big decisions. Don't
allow others to tell you what you should do. So many have shared with me (myself included) that they removed all of the loved
one's clothing immediately at the prompting of "helpful friends and family" only to later on regret having done
so. Many talk about anger
at the world. Some feel angry at the person they feel may have been responsible, even if it seems illogical. We want to blame
someone for this tragedy. We may blame loved ones, our selves, God, the doctor, the funeral director and even those who are
trying to help. Anger can be a very normal and natural response to loss, especially traumatic loss. You had no control
over what happened. Please try not to let your anger destroy you. Don't allow yourself to engage in violence. Find healthy
ways to express your anger and even rage. Find constructive ways to get it out. Some smash a tennis ball against a wall, punch
a punching bag, shoot baskets, run, walk, bike, chop wood, fix things around the house, yell and scream, cry, talk about it,
write about it, create something lasting to remember the person, and get involved in a cause, are a few of the things that
grievers have shared with me. You are not going crazy. You are in mourning. In a moment our entire life has changed. It will never be the same
as it was before this traumatic and sudden loss. So many talk about trying to "get back to normal". I find that
we have to accept the fact that we will be living a "new normal". Others around us may want us to get back to the
way we used to be. But we have changed. Many things in our life seem different. Some drop those who are not helpful in their
lives, while others expand their circle to include more and more people. We do remember those who "let us grieve"
in our own ways and in our own time without casting judgement. Some want us to "get over it" and "move one".
That feels impossible. As one woman shared with me following the sudden death of her son," don't they know that each
and every day that I wake up I am moving on...and it is agonizing for me to move on without him." Many share that
they feel that their legs are lead weights after a sudden loss. They can't move. They have difficulty swallowing. They feel
exhausted in a way never imagined. They are grieving. Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder 80%
of all people who survive a traumatic event will have a normal recovery without any form of psychological intervention. Lack of power and control are two of the most devastating aspects of psychological
trauma. Anytime a person has experienced a trauma it is best to hold that person's individual power to decide the way in which
they choose to heal. Some people will choose not to verbally process the event at all, while others may choose to talk about
it one to one or with intimate friends and family. Some may seek peace through prayer, while others may turn to such techniques
as music, arts, poetry, writing, and other ways. Some will need to share their story in order to heal. They will need others
to truly listen and bear witness to their experience. '' Only after a person feels safe and stabilized will that person begin to
process their experience. The
following are normal stress reactions and responses to a traumatic event typically lasting 30 days or less. If they continue
it is suggested that the person seeks clinical treatment).
Maladaptive
Responses to Trauma Smoking Alcohol Abuse Substance
Abuse Eating disorders Arrests Violence Early sexual intercourse and pregnancy Unprotected sex and STD's Refusing treatment for depression and anxiety Suicide attempts and completions Symptoms of
Traumatic Stress:
Carl and Stephanie Simonton provide the following formula for an effective support system: 25%
self-support 20% spouse
support 55% environmental
support Few of us have so complete a support system. Relying too much on spouse support often places a great strain on marriages.
Relying too much on a spouse or other person alone may prevent us from developing the coping skills we need. Environmental Supports
(the more people and activities we have
in our lives the more expanded and useful our support system) People:
Other:
At some of the darkest moments in my life, some people
I thought of as friends deserted me-some because they cared about me and it hurt them to see me in pain; others because I
reminded them of their own vulnerability, and that was more than they could handle. But real friends overcame their discomfort
and came to sit with me. If they had not words to make me feel better, they sat in silence (much better than saying,
"You'll get over it," or "It's not so bad; others have it worse") and I loved them for it. - Harold Kushner, Living a Life that Matters |
lisa@griefspeaks.com
(973) 985-4503