Bereavement can be defined as the state of having suffered a loss whilst experiencing many different emotions and changes. The time a person spends in bereavement is dependent on several factors including: the person them self, how attached they were to the person who died, howmuch time they spent anticipating the loss. 

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Loss can refer to the death of someone known to the patient, the loss of some valued object through theft, the loss of health, death of a pet, loss of employment, divorce etc.

Essentially, loss means that someone has had something taken away from them.

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It is quite natural and beneficial to grieve in such situations and therapy should not be considered if grieving is felt to be a positive, although potentially painful, experience. Grief is the normal process of reacting to loss. It can be experienced as a mental (anger, guilt, anxiety, sadness, despair), physical (sleep disturbance, appetite disturbance, psychosomatic problems, illness), social (feelings about the care of others in the family, seeing family or friends, or returning to work), or emotional reaction to loss.

 

WHEN DO WE GRIEVE?

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Bereavement is not only connected with the death of a family member, partner, friend or pet.
Any change in our life that includes losses of any sort can give us cause to grieve. This, perhaps, explains why change can be difficult to cope with. We grieve when we experience anything that reflects on our personal and emotional safety and security.

 

LOSSES THAT AFFECT US

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• Death of a spouse, partner, parent or child

• Loss of pregnancy through miscarriage or stillbirth

• Loss of pregnancy through planned abortion

• Loss of parenthood through infertility

• Loss or death of a pet

• Job loss

• End of a relationship

• Loss of friends and familiar environment through a house move

• Loss of control

• Loss of safety through being a victim of crime

• Loss of motherhood or femininity after a hysterectomy or mastectomy

• Loss of youth

• Loss of position in family when a sibling is born

• Any loss can potentially involve a loss of self: self-esteem, self-worth, self-value and/or self-validation.

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ALL LOSSES NEED A BEGINNING AND AN END

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No two people respond to loss in the same way and neither should they. However, where a loss is pushed aside and not processed appropriately, this can result in an individual developing a variety of symptoms that can impair their quality of life. By acknowledging the loss and making an ending, you can take back a sense of being in control and re-establish a healthy balance in your life.

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You may find you have reacted to loss by:

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• Overt expression of emotion

• Suppression of emotion

• Guilt

• Anger

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Panic attacks

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All or any of these can be incorporated into therapy.

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HYPNOTHERAPY FOR BEREAVEMENT AND LOSS

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Of course hypnosis and hypnotherapy cannot bring back a loved one or change the past but if you feel you need to process your sense of loss in a positive way so that you can move forward in your life whilst fully acknowledging your emotional state, be assured that therapy will be directed towards your specific needs. Within hypnosis you will be able to positively process and resolve any stuck or pent up emotions if necessary and in the case of bereavements, if there is a sense of unanswered questions or the need of an appropriate ending, these too can also be explored.

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If you are feeling overwhelmed and struggling with your loss, give me a call to see how hypnotherapy can help you move forward with a less troubled mind and a more positive vision of your future.