Grief

If you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, divorce, job loss, or breakup, turn to Anywhere Wellness, based in Everett and Chelan, Washington; Boise, Idaho; Denver, Colorado; and Jacksonville, Florida. Its skilled mental health experts provide grief counseling to help you overcome your loss in a healthy manner. Schedule a virtual evaluation by calling the office or booking a visit online today.

What is grief?

Grief is an experience of coping with loss, often the loss of a loved one. But you can grieve other losses, too. Feelings of grief are typically characterized as extreme or ongoing sadness, though grief symptoms vary from person to person. Treatment can help you overcome difficult thoughts and emotions linked to your grief. 

Which can cause grief?

Grief can be caused by:

• Loss of a family member or friend
• Job loss
• Divorce
• Breakup
• Financial instability
• Loss of a goal or dream
• Loss of a home
• Long-term health problems
• Infertility

Some people experience grief as they approach imminent death due to aging or a terminal medical condition.

What are the symptoms of grief?

Grief can lead to:

• Denial
• Anger
• Guilt
• Shame
• Sadness
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Feeling numb
• Missing a loved one
• Regret
• Acceptance
• Fluctuating emotions
• Fatigue
• Headaches or other aches and pains
• Restlessness
• Nausea or upset stomach 
• Weakness
• Trouble concentrating or making decisions
• Reduced appetite
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Sleeping too much
• Confusion
• Hopelessness
• Difficulty focusing or remembering things

Your symptoms may change as you navigate the different stages of grief. The experts at Anywhere Wellness can help you overcome debilitating symptoms. Grief might last 6-24 months, and symptoms often gradually improve over time. 

How is grief diagnosed?

Your Anywhere Wellness provider can diagnose grief by completing a psychiatric evaluation using DSM-5 criteria. They determine if you have other conditions like depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Your provider may also recommend genetic testing to determine how effective medication management would likely be. 

They discuss your lifestyle, moods, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, and create an effective grief treatment plan to ease your symptoms. 

How is grief treated?

Overcoming grief often consists of psychotherapy, medication management, support groups, and lifestyle adjustments. Your mental health specialist tailors a treatment offering optimal support. They might meet with you weekly or as needed for therapy and make lifestyle recommendations when necessary. 

It’s helpful to have a strong social support network in place, get plenty of sleep, eat nutritious foods, stay active, and try stress-reduction techniques. Examples include deep breathing, meditation, massage, yoga, and tai chi. 

Schedule a telehealth grief evaluation at Anywhere Wellness by calling the office or booking a visit online today.