Grief - What Is "Normal"?

Grief affects people differently, and it’s essential to remember there isn’t a 'normal' way to express sorrow. At George Darte Funeral Chapel, we have worked with many grieving families that have lost loved ones, and we know that there is no hard and fast rule about how to mourn.

Some Normal Reactions To Grief

Grief's multifaceted nature may catch people off guard. Is this normal? This is one of the most often requested questions we receive. Some of the things you may go through in the wake of death are listed here and may cause you concern or even surprise.

Seeing/Hearing The Departed Soul

It is common for people to see the deceased individual. It's also possible that you'll hear their voice, feel they are near you, or even strike up a conversation with them, and these things can catch you off guard when you are grieving. Reasons for this include the brain's attempt to digest the death and realize its finality or the mind's temporary forgetting that the person has died.

Sudden Inexplicable Anger With Everyone

Anger is a typical response to loss. You're possibly feeling overwhelmed by the demands of family, finances, and housework. You might direct feelings of rage toward a person responsible for the death. Grief may cause anger against the deceased, whom you might blame for your suffering. These actions are typical reactions to a sense of helplessness, hopelessness, or abandonment.

Feeling Anxious Constantly

After losing a loved one, you may experience a great deal of anxiety. Feelings of panic, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations are common symptoms. To have a full-blown panic episode might be terrifying. It may cause you to feel dizzy, disoriented, weak, or nauseous.

Go Over And Over All The Details Of The Person’s Death

It's natural to repeatedly relive the tragic events surrounding a loved one's passing. This is especially true in cases when the death was unexpected or painful—the mind's attempt at making sense of the tragedy.

However, occasionally individuals get severely bothered by mental pictures following a traumatic encounter, which, in its extreme form, might develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you're in this situation, it may be time to seek assistance.

Feeling Numb/ Not Feeling Anything At All

In the aftermath of a death, it is common to feel numb. This is one of the side effects of shock, which might make you act normally at first. It's shocking to learn that someone crucial won't be returning. Many individuals feel disorientated, as if they've been transported to another planet or have forgotten who they are.

Inability to Cry/ Crying Continually

One cannot generalize about a person's response to grief. The intensity of their feelings might leave some individuals in tears regularly. Some people may experience numbness or an inability to weep for an extended period. People's moods may fluctuate wildly from one extreme to the other. Conflict may arise from people's contrasting emotional responses to these differences. Nonetheless, keep in mind that these responses are pretty typical. In no way does it reflect how you really felt about the deceased.

Sleeping All The Time/Suffering From Insomnia

After the death of a loved one, it is common to have sleep disturbances. If you often have disturbing dreams while sleeping, you may be reluctant to turn in for the night. Alternatively, your racing thoughts may make it hard for you to fall asleep. Waking up after a dream in which the deceased appears to you may be quite upsetting.

These are the many faces of sadness and ways individuals express and process their sorrow. So there is really no concept of which grief is normal” and which isn’t.

Elegant Funeral Services To Help You Cope With Your Grief

Grief that stems from the death of someone close to you can sometimes be devastating and derail your life. No one understands this better than the team at George Darte Funeral Home. We offer elegant and compassionate funeral services to help you cope with your grief.

If you want to speak with our funeral director, please call us at 905-937-4444. Please use this contact form if you prefer to send us your queries via a message. One of our team members will call you soon to answer your questions and provide information about our funeral services.