The Grief You May Feel

You have experienced the loss of someone close to you. No words can take away the pain you feel. Nevada Donor Network is here and wants to help. 

Everyone experiences grief in a different way and it can be very complicated and diverse. There are no timelines or stages that must be followed when grieving the loss of a loved one. Your grief experience is as unique as you. There is no wrong way to grieve, only your way. While we all experience grief in a different way, there are some common emotions associated with grief.

ANGER
Anger is normal in most grief experiences, but especially in an unexpected death. You may be angry with your loved one who has died or with yourself for not being able to make things better. Feeling as though you were left alone is common.

DENIAL AND ISOLATION 
It is okay to be in a state of numbness or disbelief. It is natural to keep painful feelings at bay and withdraw from those whom care about you. When you are ready, acknowledge your feelings and begin the healing process.

GUILT 
You may take on the blame of what happened and flood your thoughts with “what if” and “if only” statements. These thoughts are not logical, but are a normal part of the process when grieving the loss of a loved one.

SADNESS
Sadness comes in waves and you may experience more over time. You will need time to embrace the depth of the loss. You may feel more tired than usual and even have trouble sleeping. Your body will react to the loss as well. Be patient with yourself and give yourself time to heal.

Emotionally, you may also experience:

• Forgetfulness
• Unexpected anger towards others, a deity or the deceased
• Crying
• Mood swings
• Fear of what will happen next
• A sense of your emotions being overwhelming and a feeling that you “aren’t yourself” due to intensity of emotions