What are grief and loss?

Experiences such as death, separation, illness, injury or a layoff can be described as significant losses. For many people the experience of loss can involve intense emotional reactions. The word grief has been used to describe the emotions and experiences that often follow a significant loss. After a loss, many people experience intense feelings of sorrow, emptiness, longing, shock, anger and/or helplessness. When the loss is sudden or unexpected, it can be described as a traumatic loss. The important thing to remember is that people have unique ways of reacting to a loss and they have different grief reactions. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, nor is there a timeline for how long a grief experience should last.

What is a traumatic event?

A traumatic event involves being the victim of or witnessing a negative event that's out of the ordinary. Some specific examples of a traumatic event include:

• acts of terrorism;
• sexual assault;
• unexpected death;
• mugging;
• physical assault;
• a severe automobile accident;
• a life threatening illness;
• or a natural or manmade disaster.

It also includes knowing a family member or friend who has been the victim of an unexpected death, a serious injury, an attack or other life-threatening event. A person can also become traumatized by watching an extremely disturbing event on television, or hearing about a traumatic event from someone else.

What are some possible emotional and physical reactions to a loss or to a traumatic event?

Worry - Some people may feel very worried about their own safety and that of their loved ones. They may be concerned about what bad thing will happen next.

Numbness - Some people may initially be in shock and feel detached and in disbelief about the event.

Depression - Some people may feel a more pervasive sense of sadness over time. They may lose interest in their usual activities and have difficulty concentrating. They may feel intense longing and emptiness. They may also have crying spells and develop a sense of helplessness and pessimism.

Confusion - Some people have very intense feelings, but they can't identify them or put them into words.

Nightmares - Some people may have bad dreams about the event or other nightmares that represent the loss or trauma. They may have difficulty staying asleep, they may eventually avoid going to sleep, or they may want to sleep with the light on.

Physical Reactions - Some people may experience a decrease or increase in appetite and they may be easily startled or frightened. In general, they may feel more "jumpy." They may turn to alcohol or drugs in an attempt to calm down. At times, people simply don't feel well in a variety of ways.

Spiritual Crisis - Some people question their faith and wonder how God could have allowed this terrible thing to happen. They may become angry with God and disillusioned with religion in general. They may have difficulty finding answers to the question of why this happened.

Avoidance - Some people avoid people, places or things that remind them of the loss or trauma. When they do encounter reminders of the loss or trauma, they may experience feelings similar to those they experienced during the loss or trauma itself.

Feeling "scattered" - Some people have difficulty focusing on their work or daily activities. They may find it hard to concentrate and to get things done.

What can you do to cope with loss or trauma?

1. Accept your feelings as being a normal reaction to an extreme situation. You are not "going crazy"; rather you are having intense feelings that are perfectly understandable and to be expected in this situation.
2. Talk about it to friends, family, resident assistants, campus ministers, and other supportive individuals. Bottling up your feelings will not make them go away. In fact, it may prolong them.
3. Seek professional help, if necessary. If talking to friends, family and others is not making you feel better, make an appointment at the Counseling Center, Spellman Hall (633-2038), in order to determine whether counseling is appropriate. Counseling can help you put your feelings into words.
4. Reach out to others who have been affected by the loss. Use each other as a "support group."
5. Give yourself the time and space to heal. This may mean asking for excused absences, extensions or incompletes in courses. You may ask the Office of Student Retention (633- 2360) or the Counseling Center (633-2038) to intervene on your behalf.
6. Whenever possible, do structure your time and attempt to continue at least some of your customary daily activities.
7. Use exercise, physical activity and relaxation techniques to help you get through this time. Just getting outside and going for a walk can help.
8. Engage in meaningful rituals related to the loss, such as creating a memorial service, lighting candles, leaving flowers or other activities that will help you heal.
9. Be gentle with yourself; don't expect yourself to function as if nothing has happened. Don't beat yourself up for not getting things done right now. Cut yourself some slack – you're not lazy, you're grieving.
10. Don't withdraw; don't isolate yourself; stay connected to peers, family, friends, and helpers.
11. If your loss of appetite, sleeplessness or other physical symptoms persist, call Health Services, (633-2548) for assistance.
12. Turn to spirituality, go to religious services if that has comforted you in the past. Going to services also puts you in the presence of other people in your community.
13. If you do find yourself in a spiritual crisis and you would like to speak to someone on campus about it, call Campus Ministries (633-2632) for assistance.
14. Remember that you are not alone. Use the resources that are there to help and to support you.
15. Remember your own strengths. You have survived hard times in the past and moved on. Use those coping strategies again.

Resources at Iona College for Coping with Loss and Trauma:

Counseling Center........................................	633-2038
Heath Services...............................................	633-2548
Student Retention..........................................	633-2270
Student Development...................................	633-2360
Residential Life..............................................	633-2336
Campus Ministries........................................	633-2632
Resident Advisors/Campus Ministers