Grief is often described as a “roller coaster.” As a person processes their grief their mood often fluctuates up and down. Some days the sadness is manageable, other days the sadness feels intolerable and all encompassing. From a clinical perspective this is the normal pattern our psychology follows as we adjust to the profound loss and change in our lives.
After experiencing loss, it is crucial to focus on processing grief in the most adaptive manner. If a person’s anguish is not properly addressed, they could be at risk for developing “complicated” or “unresolved” grief. These forms of grief could lead to an increased risk of developing anxiety and/or depression, especially if someone was dealing with anxious or depressive symptoms prior to experiencing their loss. Grief has the potential to make anxiety and depression bloom.
If you have just experienced a loss and are dealing with deep sadness, or if you are having emotional difficulty surrounding a past lost, psychotherapy is an effective treatment in working through this difficult aspect of life. If you feel your anxiety and/or depression has worsened during the grief process it is important to address those issues. I have years of experience (both personally and professionally) dealing with grief. It is not something to be suffered alone. If you wish to talk further about your grief please contact me at hackett.therapy@gmail.com or call me directly at 917-697-2407.