In the world in which we live, most people equate grief with two significant events, death and the end of a significant relationship, (divorce). Maybe you have experienced one or both of these life significant losses, the death of someone whom you love deeply, or the termination of a relationship with someone whom you shared hopes, dreams and expectations. Both of these losses can cause us significant grief. Although these are the the ones most of us think of, there are numerous other life experiences that cause us great sorrow that we fail to think of a s significant. When we fail to process the emotions resulting from such loss, the unresolved negative emotions remain present but dormant. Loss doesn’t have to be recent or acknowledged by others to still cause us pain.
Listed here in no particular order is some examples major loss: Loss of financial security Pet loss Inability to conceive Loss of important friendships Loss of health Children leaving home Loss of looks Loss of vibrancy (Aging) Loss of Social Status End of Pregnancy (Miscarriage and Abortion) Moving Imprisonment Loss of independence Loss of Employment position Infant mortality Loss of Religious identification
The reason for listing the above examples randomly is because what is significant to one person may not be significant to someone else. Loss is personal that way. Many of us have experienced several of the losses to a greater or lesser degree at some point in our lives. A review of this list can help us recall loss experiences in our own lives.
What are some of the losses you have experienced? Does significant grief still remain unresolved?