Behavioral Symptoms of Grief: You Are Not Alone

By: JB Anthony
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:41:51
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It is normal to feel pain and to grieve after the loss of a loved-one. There is no need to feel guilty for having overlooked a few minor obligations at home or at work when one is in the period of bereavement. It is never easy to lose someone we love.

Most people deal with grief in their own ways. Some people get over pain quickly through frequent expression while others deal and get over it quickly if they try to find diversions. However, there are universal signs of grief that are manifested by people behaviorally. It is important to know the behavioral signs and symptoms of someone who is grieving so that, even if they do not verbally acknowledge their pain, we may be more understanding and tolerant of their absent-minded behavior or their temporary inability to handle day-to-day functions due to grief and depression.

1. Forgetfulness, absent-mindedness, lack of focus – people who are in grief are usually forgetful and absent-minded from frequently thinking about their lost loved-one. Sometimes, forgetfulness is also a by-product of our grief coping mechanism that tries to shut off any emotion-triggering thoughts to experience less of the pain.

2. Assuming mannerisms and behaviors of the deceased – In the hope of bringing back the memory and of connecting to the deceased, some people assume behaviors of the deceased. This behavior is usually observable with death within the family. For instance, a brother of a coffee-loving sister who died recently may find himself drinking more cups of coffee to relive the memory of his dead sister.

3. Dreams of the deceased – Office mates and co-workers of people who have experienced recent death and loss may find themselves hearing about how they have dreamt of their lost loved-ones. These dreams are the products of the grieving sub-conscious at work. Frequent crying bouts – Grief does not choose the time or the day for the grieving to cry and express their pain.

Grief is a universal emotion and coping with it takes a lot of time and patience. And although those who are in grief may not care to go on with life anymore without their beloved, the fact is that life does go on with its many ups and downs up its sleeves. Grief should not stop as from living for as surely as the pain of death and dying are realities of life, so too are the joys of birth and reunion part of life. Therefore, let us feel the pain of grief, get up, move on, and live to wait for the brighter surprises that life has to offer.

JB Anthony is the co-webmaster and co-promoter of http://www.guidetofunerals.com For more information on death and dying, dealing with grief and bereavement, funeral guides and tips, links to funeral-related products, links to funeral homes, please visit http://www.guidetofunerals.com

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