Iwona Drozdz therapy

Grief is the acute pain that accompanies loss. Because it is a reflection of what we love, it can feel all-encompassing. Grief is not limited to the loss of people, but when it follows the loss of a loved one, it may be compounded by feelings of guilt and confusion, especially if the relationship was a difficult one.

The death of a loved one is one of the greatest sorrows that can occur in one's life. People's responses to grief will vary depending upon the circumstances of the death, but grief is a normal, healthy response to loss. Feelings of bereavement can also accompany other losses, such as the decline of one's health or the health of a close other, or the end of a meaningful relationship.

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​Traumatic bereavement occurs when the death of a loved one is sudden, violent, unexpected, or deeply distressing. Unlike anticipated loss, it overwhelms the mind’s ability to process what has happened. The death itself becomes inseparable from the trauma surrounding it, leaving the bereaved not only grieving the person they lost, but also struggling with the shock, fear, and helplessness tied to how the loss occurred.

In traumatic bereavement, grief and trauma coexist.

People may experience intense yearning, sadness, and longing alongside intrusive images, nightmares, emotional numbness, or a constant sense of danger. Memories of the death may replay uncontrollably, while ordinary reminders: sounds, places, dates, can trigger panic or despair. The nervous system remains on high alert, as if the loss is still happening.

​This often requires time, compassion, and support.