Nearly 5 years ago, my husband’s precious maternal grandmother passed away. This special woman had an amazing sense of humor and a flair for life. Without saying a word, she could make me laugh with just a look. Several years before her death, she visited a local funeral home in order to plan her funeral services. When she passed away, the family didn’t have to deal with the stress of organizing her farewell services. They could relax, grieve, and concentrate on the wonderful memories they shared with her. I've grown to appreciate this. On this blog, you will discover the steps required to plan your own funeral.
Planning Your Funeral
Three Instances Of Anticipatory Grief That Could Compel You To Get Help
Nora Mitchelle
While people often view grief as something that occurs after a traumatic or otherwise upsetting event, it's important to remember that you can actually begin to experience grief in advance of something bad happening. In the counseling community, this situation is commonly known as "anticipatory grief." Many people experience this form of grief, as well as a different type of grief later on after the unwanted event has taken place. If you're noticing signs of anticipatory grief, don't feel as though you need to wait to get help from a grief counselor. These therapists help many people in the anticipatory stage of grieving. Here are three instances that could compel you to seek help.
A Loved One's Terminal Diagnosis
For many people, hearing that a loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness can be just as upsetting as his or her eventual death, in some ways. This situation can often be worse if the terminal diagnosis is unexpected, as the shock can send you spiraling into a period of deep grief. While you might think about enlisting the help of a grief counselor after the loved one's death, there's no reason to wait. You're likely in a period of anticipatory grief, and can almost certainly benefit from some grief counseling sessions right away.
A Pending Divorce
After a divorce, some people feel happy and free, while others experience significant feelings of loss and grief. Many people rely on help from grief counselors after going through this difficult event, but your grief may be bothering you long before you finalize the divorce. For example, if you and your spouse reach a point at which it's clear that you're not going to fix your marriage — perhaps there have been repeated instances of infidelity on his or her part that are simply too much for you to look past — you're in a period of anticipatory grief that you can help with counseling.
The End Of A Career
While people often celebrate retirement, there are others for whom this can be a difficult time. For example, someone whose whole identity is closely linked with his or her career, or who has little to no family or social life, may find that it's very challenging to step away from the world of work. If you're feeling this way, you're likely going through some degree of anticipatory grief. Professional help at this time in your life may make the eventual transition to retirement a little easier.
Are you suffering from grief after the death of a loved one? Talk with the team at Brown Funeral Home to learn more about grief counseling.
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