Grief
What are the common symptoms?
While everyone experiences grief differently, there are common signs that often appear during this process.
- Intense sadness or tearfulness
- Feelings of guilt or regret
- Anger or irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Loss of appetite or overeating
- Physical symptoms like fatigue or aches
- Withdrawal from social activities
Why do I feel like this?
Grieving is a deeply personal process that affects both mind and body. When we lose someone or something significant, our emotions can feel overwhelming and unpredictable. These reactions are normal and part of how humans process loss. Below are some key reasons behind these feelings:
Shock and Emotional Turbulence
Grief often begins with shock, leaving you numb or disbelieving. This is your brain’s way of protecting you from emotional overload. As reality sinks in, emotions fluctuate which reflects your mind’s attempt to process and adapt to a changed reality.
Physical and Cognitive Impact
Grief is not only emotional. It affects your body and mind. Stress hormones surge, causing fatigue, headaches, or chest tightness. Cognitive functions like memory and concentration decline because your brain prioritises emotional healing over logic. This combination makes everyday tasks feel harder and amplifies the sense of disorientation.
Identity and Role Disruption
Loss can shake your sense of self. Roles, routines, and relationships tied to the person or situation change, leaving you feeling incomplete or uncertain. This identity disruption often triggers feelings of emptiness and vulnerability, as you struggle to redefine who you are without what you have lost.
Search for Meaning and Control
How does therapy help?
Through therapy, individuals learn to express feelings without judgement, explore the meaning of their loss, and gradually rebuild a sense of normality. Therapy does not erase grief but helps manage its intensity, fostering resilience and emotional healing. Further benefits to therapy for clients experiencing grief are outlined below:
Emotional Expression
Therapy encourages open expression of sadness, anger, and confusion, reducing emotional suppression. This validation helps individuals feel understood and supported, preventing long-term psychological distress and promoting emotional release.
Understanding Grief Stages
Therapists explain grief’s stages, helping individuals recognise their feelings as normal. This understanding reduces fear and confusion, fostering acceptance and emotional clarity.
Developing Coping Strategies
Therapy equips individuals with practical coping tools like mindfulness, journaling, and relaxation techniques. These strategies reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, and provide structure during unpredictable grieving periods.
Preventing Complicated Grief
Therapy identifies signs of prolonged or complicated grief early. Intervention prevents mental health issues such as depression or anxiety, ensuring individuals receive timely care and recovery support.
Rebuilding Daily Functioning
Therapists assist in restoring routines, work focus, and social engagement. Structured guidance helps individuals regain stability, confidence, and purpose, reducing isolation and promoting gradual reintegration into life.
Creating Meaning and Growth
Therapy encourages reflection on the loss, fostering personal growth and resilience. Individuals often find new meaning, strengthen relationships, and develop a deeper appreciation for life’s values.
What are the therapy options that Transformations Clinical Psychology can offer me?
Please contact us or follow this link if you would like to set up an assessment with a Psychologist at Transformations Clinical Psychology.
Meet Our Team
Meet our friendly and experienced team, here to help you with confidence and care.
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Please contact us or click on this link if you would like to see one of our experienced psychologists
FAQ
Q1. What happens in the first session? Do I need to prepare?
Your first appointment is 50–60 minutes. We’ll get to know you—what’s been hard, what you’d like to change, and what’s helped before. You’re welcome to bring notes or just come as you are; we’ll go at your pace. Please complete the online intake and consent forms beforehand. Sessions are available in person (Sydney) or via secure telehealth across Australia. We’ll finish with a clear plan and time for your questions. If you’re in immediate danger, call 000.
Q2. How do fees and Medicare/private insurance work? Do I need a GP referral?
You can book without a referral. If your GP provides a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate. We’ll check your eligibility and confirm your out-of-pocket cost before you commit. Private health (Extras) can’t be claimed with Medicare for the same session—please check your fund for coverage. If cost is a concern, let us know and we’ll talk through options.
Q3. Will my information be kept confidential?
Yes. Your sessions and records are kept private under strict legal and ethical standards. There are a few exceptions—if there’s a serious risk of harm, concerns about a child or vulnerable person, or a court order. If we ever need to share information, we’ll explain why, what will be shared, and involve you as much as possible.