Have you recently lost a loved one? As someone who has lost people close to me and counseled others who have lost loved ones, here are three things I have learned. First, time does not “heal all wounds,” but things (meaning your thoughts and emotions) do get better with time, especially with the right support. Second, grief is a process that must be embraced for healing. There are numerous coping skills that help with grief including journaling, meditating, praying and memorializing your loved one and a seasoned therapist will know all of them. Not dealing with your grief or employing negative coping skills (like drug use) may provide temporary escape, but will not produce real healing. And finally, there is often (though not always) a beautifully colored pattern in the tapestry of grief.  

The beauty that emerges, or perhaps just becomes more evident after the death of a loved one, is all the things you loved most about that person. It is the greatest memories you have of them, the things they did with you and taught you, the places you went together and the conversations you had. The beauty lies in recognizing how that person forever changed you for the better. And that is something that not even the grave can take from you. It is part of who you are.

If you have recently lost someone close to you, whether your relationship with that person was positive or negative, a trained licensed mental health counselor can provide support to you during this difficult time and help you learn how to manage the various emotions that surface.  A therapist can also help you determine whether or not you have depression or are just in the midst of the grieving process. If you need help, please call Life Enhancement Counseling Services of Orlando today at (407) 620-7855 to make an appointment to speak with a counselor.