Grief is change. It changes our life, our routine, our plan and right along with it, grief changes us. Change is hard under the best of circumstances (new job, a wedding, a baby), but the changes we don’t ask for can be intolerable. Some of these changes will be forever and long lasting, but some will only be part of the acute and early stages of grieving (whatever that timeline looks like for you). And some of these changes aren’t necessarily all bad.
Losing a loved one is just about the worst thing that can happen to any of us. But the feeling of losing ourselves can make a tough time even harder to cope. Because if we don’t feel like ourselves, what strengths and skills can we possibly draw upon?
This subject has come up in our forums quite a bit lately. Following the grievers’ stories, as they talk about who they lost, when it happened, and how it happened, the same words punctuate each sad story…”I will never be the same again”.
This is one of the terrible surprises in loss. The change, too much change, that’s all happening at once. And complicating matters is the search, hope or expectation that things could ever be the same again.
While it’s a totally natural and very understandable part of the process, it’s also the most futile task of grieving: pining for things to go back to the way they were, or to expect ourselves to be the same person after we’ve lost someone we love.
A better approach may be to try and understand (and possibly even embrace at some point) all the ways grief changes us…for now and forever:
HOW GRIEF CHANGES US FOR NOW:
- changes in sleep, eating, and overall energy
- personality changes like being more irritable, less patient, or no longer having the tolerance for other people’s “small” problems
- forgetfulness, trouble concentrating and focusing
- becoming more isolated, either by choice or circumstances
- feeling like an outcast
- relationship changes with family and friends as they react to the “new” us
- feeling more anxious, afraid or fearful for the future as we wonder what’s next or where we go from here, or waiting for the other shoe to drop
So if we say these changes are “for now”, when exactly can a griever expect to change back? Here’s where it gets tricky. As stated before, no one should expect to go back to who they were before their loved one died. These losses shape, change, and mold us like few other things in life can. But those fundamental parts of who we are, the focus we once had, the organization, the patience…those things tend to come back with patience, self-care, and time.
Those in the early stages of grief will find this hard to believe but I’ve seen it happen over and over and over. The veil that lifts, that one day where a griever wakes up and feels maybe just a little bit “better”.
This isn’t to say that they aren’t still grieving. You can be crying every day and still be doing better, as strange as that may seem. The hope is to again see things like focus, and ability to remember birthdays, and where you parked the car, to return.
HOW GRIEF CHANGES US FOREVER:
- most grievers will forever feel that a part of them is missing – every day will have a void where they wish their loved one could be
- many grievers will carry at least some part of the trauma that surrounds even “expected” loss and feel a little broken or wounded in some way
- for some, a fundamental change in how they perceive the fairness of life
Yet most grievers I speak to wouldn’t have it any other way. No one wants to experience loss, of course. Anyone who has lost a loved one would trade their new life for the old one- the life that had their loved one in it. But perhaps that’s why some of the forever changes are the ones we hold on to. As a way to honor and remember the love and life we shared.
While it’s hard to talk about any good that could come out of loss, and most grievers would never want any part of their loss to be presented with the old “silver lining” cliche, there are other changes a griever can experience.
And unlike those listed above, they aren’t all bad:
- opportunity to feel closer to others, especially those friends or family who have provided especially good support
- new friendships that may develop because of loss – a coworker or neighbor who unexpectedly reached out, or connections made in a support group
- no longer sweating the small stuff, having a deeper understanding of what really matters
- becoming more compassionate and understanding to those around us
- the way loss can so totally break us so that we have no choice but to rebuild from the bottom up and “fix” some things along the way
- the loss of a loved one can show us a strength, resilience, and independence we may not have known we have. It can create opportunities for us to surprise ourselves with the things we can do, and the things we can endure
I’ve had many grievers talk about their life before loss. And many have shared similar stories about a friend who may have suffered a loss before them. They’ll say now, “I had no idea what she was going through” and they’ll talk about how badly they feel as they look back and see that they too had offered the well-intentioned but empty condolences. One thing they also always say is, “but that will never happen again”. Because for better or worse, they will never again be someone who doesn’t understand or doesn’t know how to help.
While we’d never choose to be an ambassador to grief, we can choose (in time) to embrace the roles we’ve been given. So that for now, and forever, we can be someone who can help another walk this long and painful path. And perhaps we’ll find the chance to grow and heal right along with them…
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Whether talking about changes for now or forever, loss becomes a very important part of who we are. We just never want it to be the ONLY thing we are.
To connect with those who understand, to find companionship, tools and healing, visit us today at www.griefincommon.com.
This post was just what I needed. I thought that it was just me who was stuck here. In the I’m lost with out you
Stage. Cant seems to find a way pass this. Thought eventually I’d rebuild my life.. As I know he would want me to. He’d say let go.. Live your life.. No regrets.. Even knowing that I still can’t let him go. I’ve gotten better at being alone.. And can make decisions and be independent. But I still think of him and talk to him everyday. Some days it brings peace to me and other days it crushes me.. Glad to know that it all normal that you just don’t clear your mind and start a new life without
Thank you so much for creating this much needed web site. I lost my husband 5 weeks ago. We adored each other and were married over 44 years. His health was not good for the last 10 years and especially the last two; I was his caregiver. He had been in and out of the hospital, but overcame severe illnesses and always came back home until the last time. I may have been in denial, but I expected him to get well and come back home once again. I am devastated over the loss of my darling angel, and I am searching for ways to deal with this overwhelming grief.
I lost my mam two years ago, she died, suddenly & unexpectedly at home, my dad & myself were there. I was working from home & my dad discovered her in bed (she had had a viral infection). I gave her chest compressions until a neighbour took over….. horrendous. I knew she was gone. Then after the dust settled & I went back to work I was made redundant from my job less than two weeks back… that was weird. Got married the following year (Sept 2018) – that was weird without her.
Last week I finally got myself a job after looking hard the last 6or so months (in a lucky position that I was able to be off for so long). Weird thing is that Ive found myself so emotional & scared at the changes the last couple of days. I really think its grief popping its head back up & it’s knocking my confidence & making me 2nd guess myself. I don’t like it at all. Crying over stupid stuff & then getting annoying with myself. Sorry am now just venting & waffling…. to my point this article helped me realize its all par for the course & I should just ride the emotional wave, Im still in here somewhere…. it does get easier a little but sometimes smacks you when you aren’t expecting it. It takes lots of time…
Thank you very much for this helpful website.
I find that I have changes to my sleep pattern.
I feel as though I am not secure. I cannot really sleep or feel relaxed. My husband passed away suddenly November 2014.
Thanksgiving this year is November 28th it will be the date of my husband’s passing. It will be five years but it feels like yesterday.
We shared 44 years. I miss my soulmate
so much. I still cry from time to time.
One night I made barbecued chicken, the minute I saw the tiny brush for the sauce I started crying, I said to myself that it was not the brush that made me cry, it was the rush of emotions, memories of my husband using that little brush when he barbecued. So many memories. I feel that I am trying hard to make it through each day. I carry on and people think that I am doing great, little do they know.
Grief changes us, things will never be the same.
Your article helped me understand my own grieving process. Since my brother passed a few months back, I haven’t been the same or better yet myself. I am saddened at my loss but even more so I can’t believe that my baby brother is gone. I remember when he was born, how beautiful and tiny he was and now poof, he is in another dimension. It’s really hard to cope with the loss of a loved one, I never dealt with it before. I hoped I won’t have to maybe I would be lucky enough to go before. Needless to say it was very sudden and the feeling has left myself and my family members with a numbness. Grieving alters your mental and physical health making you more susceptible to infections, I think. I have gotten the flu 3 times since then. I doubt I will wake up someday and not feel any pain. This process has allowed me to deal and accept my own death and appreciate life in general. I hope and pray that I do some good in my lifetime and hopefully reunite with my brother after I die. The pain and suffering, will it ever become easy?
Hello,
I am not sure if you will come back and read but I lost my bbrother in 2013. He was 5 when he passed away. He was diagnosed with cancer at age 4, was in treatment for one year until his body couldn’t take it anymore… it is already sept. 2020 and the pain still there. I don’t cry everyday as i used to but little things he liked or he used to do always remind me of him. Sometimes, it makes feelssad because if he was alive there was so much he could have done with his life but he is not. That is unfortunately the devastating fact. I wish i could hold his hands and hug him but i know it won’t happen. At least not here… today i saw someone with cancer which i do iften and here i am just trying to vent my feelings or even read how other people who through the same are doing. Anyway, it wont be easy but it will be possible to continue moving on with your life. Sometimes, you will just wake up feeling angry or maybe sad. Other days you may be really happy until phrase, a color, a place reminds you of your love one and then you may just want to cry. And it i sookay to cry. It is okay to let everything out, just remember it should get better at some point. Seek professional help if needed, don’t be afraid. Not everyone grieves in the same way. I used to play music, and still do. Didn’t use black clothing but the pain was there regardless of the color of my cloths. It was always there. Just try to do what makes you happy even if it means finding new ways
Struggling badly right now. I lost my husband in 2016. My father passed in 2018, my mother died last october and only sibling is in his last days. He seemingly gave up fighting his cancer when we lost mom.
How do you cope, losing everyone you love in 3.5 years?
What about the loss of a adult child. I realize everyone has losses. And I’m not taking away from their grief. But there’s not a lot out there about losing you child.
My beloved husband of over 45 years died May 9 2017. I also lost my best friend, my protector,my lover, my enco my encourager, the only person other than my grandparents who loved me for just being me. I got married at 17, 19 my family thought I was the worse person on earth and I had a 4 years old. He was an only child and indulged. But he loved me. I was just what his mother wanted for him. HA But he loved me. He would do anything for me. We completed each other. He also loved my daughter. So we had a wonderful life.He adopted my daughter and we had a son. Even after we had had been married over 40 years we still walked holding hands, always sat close as possible.
He had a heart attack. He had COPD, he had several other illnesses. So we thought he would die first. But not at 71.
I went into shock for over 2 years. My son and his wife ttook care of me.
I am having trouble living without him. I still cry myself to sleep most nights. I have started when I wake in the morning I feel like he is holding me and try to not waking him. People who knew us and people who know me keep telling me I should write a book about us. I have started but going over our life is breaking me down. I am 71 years old. The ladies in my family die into their late 80 or 90. I know that I may not. But what am I suppose to do now? I’m a retired accountant.My m AllI can do is cry sleep and eat. How am I supposed to go on. I know I will never forget his love and never stop loving him.
Lee
My mum was my best friend in our later years. She took 16 horrible months to die. She couldn’t hear or see or talk and at the end, eat. She died of starvation. My brother and I looked after her till we couldn’t do it alone any longer. My darling brother, my comrade in arms, the love of my life died suddenly 7 months after mum. Feel dead myself. But I wake up every morning and need to face another day.
Hi my husband has been gone for two years and I just want to be normal again my daughter’s keep telling me they want there old mother back but I can’t find her
Hello my daughter’s keep telling me they want there mother back but I can’t find her after losing my mom and eight months later my husband to years ago
Iam happy go lucky person.Always out there talking to neighborhood and friends.We ate outside with laughter in our face and poof…someone messaged me that my mother has a mental illness killed by someone.My mother’s sister and brother send me a pictures of my mother in the middle of mountain,forest alone her body is rotten without shirt and pants and it shattered my whole life! That was the most emotional nights crying without proper sleep.Isolate myself from everyone and spending my hours,day and time in home.Whatever i do i suddenly cry and feel the loneliness and loss of my mother.It’s a painful and i dont know how can i move on from this emotions.Im full of regrets not there to help her and find ways to reconnect with her when she is still there.I cried alot and so much pain in my chest.
Me and my husband elmo did and shared everything together and went away together and had some many good holiday together until he spent 6 months in bed not even got out until my daughter noticed he was wetting the bbed then one weekend at 7 in the morning he said is that ambulance coming yet
I just lost my father only 3 weeks ago. It was extremely sudden and very unexpected. His health was not the best but he had been doing extremely well lately. I lived with him so, I was with him when he went, it was traumatic and I worry I am somehow still in shock. I cried but I do not have that feeling of loss or depression where most people feel like they cannot do anything. I have been working non stop donating, selling, and keeping the sentimental items. It was not as hard as I expected, but I worry that I have no truly begun to grieve. As an only child I cannot afford to be stuck in a daze for days, weeks or months as I need to provide for myself now that he is gone (I have had a job but his income helped afford our house). It’s such a huge job to do it all alone, though of course I have had plenty of emotional support from family and friends. I also feel like if I stop moving I won’t be able to start again. I sincerely hope I can move past the immediate concerns and get myself settled somewhere and THEN be a hopeless mess for a short time. I feel like I owe him that, he was such a wonderful man, not a person that he met did not like him, unless it was their own issues that made them feel that way, always had such nice things to say about him. Being very in tune with my emotions and constantly inner monologueing, maybe I am just delaying the inevitable. Finally, its almost like I am feeling his strength and resilience already. Time will tell, this helped a bit.
What about the accepted loss of living permanent esstranged Family Members?