By Debbie Nelson, licensed professional counselor for Student Counseling
Grieving the loss of a loved one can feel overwhelming and sad. However, it also allows us the opportunity to process our feelings in order to celebrate life.
According to the late Swiss psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross there are seven stages of grief as follows:
It is important to realize that the grieving process is not linear or even circular. It is actually more of a zigzag where a person experiences one stage followed by another stage; however, it does not necessary proceed in any particular order and stages are often repeated by an individual.
It may be helpful to practice times of normal and routine behavior, such as continuing to attend classes. This can provide a sense of normalcy and distraction in life.
Grieving can sometimes cause challenges with focus and motivation in classes. You may feel like a failure and that your life will never be normal or good again. Student Counseling can provide help in processing your feelings around grief.
Celebrating life allows individuals to heal. It permits time to focus on the positive influences your loved one had on your life. It provides the opportunity for you to continue to live your life and experience the joy, happiness, and good things around you.
UNG will celebrate the lives of students who have died while enrolled at UNG Remembers Day on April 27. Please join us for this opportunity to grieve and celebrate:
For more information, visit the Student Counseling website or the Nigel Cares website.