Grief and Loss

Symptom and Description

Since your loss, you may feel sad, lonely, fearful, angry, guilty, or you may have difficulty enjoying things. You may find it hard to talk to anyone about your loss. You are grieving—feeling the effects of a loss. It is normal and healthy for you to feel these things.

Learning Needs

There are some things you can do to make yourself feel better. First, you need to know that these feelings are normal and most people feel some of these things when they have had a loss:

• Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy

• Not able to concentrate

• Thinking a lot about your loss

• Feeling helpless

• Keeping to yourself

• Feeling guilty

• Anger

• Talking a lot about your loss

• Feeling like you are losing your mind

• Tight feeling in your throat

• Feeling like you can't breathe

• Empty feeling in your stomach

• No appetite

• Tired, lack of energy

• Cry easily

Management

Here are some of the things you can do to help yourself:

• Talk to your nurse, doctor, clergy, or friends

• Cry with someone or cry alone

• Join a support group—get times and dates from your nurse

• Talk to someone who has had a similar loss

• Get help from family or friends when making a decision

• Read about grief

• Pray or meditate

• Write down how you feel

• Go for walks

• Listen to music

Follow-up

It is normal to grieve when you have lost someone or something. This includes loss of health, energy, strength, job, hair, or body parts. Talking to someone about your feelings can help. Please tell your nurse if you need help.