Are you facing grief? Perhaps your child is going through these emotions after the loss of their parent or a close friend. Understanding what you or your child are feeling is quite difficult. Keep in mind that you cannot tap into your child’s mind to know what he or she is thinking about and for that reason, it’s important to understand what to expect. Whether it is you or your child battling this loss, consider the most common symptoms of grief, what they mean, and what you can do.

– Anger is a very natural part of the process. Many people lash out at others because of their fear of what’s to come and the loss they feel.

– Blame is quite common as well, especially in situations where a child is lost. You look for reasons why it happened and believe you are to blame for some aspect of this loss. If I had only….

– Confusion can be hard to face especially when it is in a younger child. Confusion often comes before sheer fear and it can be debilitating to many people.

– Disorganization and frustration can happen to many people as well. This often occurs as a result of being unable to focus on what’s happening and being more focused on what has happened.

–Shock is worrisome when it lasts. Most people will be unable to comprehend a sudden death initially and will look for answers to the question “why.”

– Denial and bargaining can occur in many people, especially in children who have lost a loved one close to them. There is no bargain that works, of course, but this is an important step towards acceptance.

– Sadness and loneliness are also common. Your life has changed. You don’t know what’s to come. You miss your loved one.

Experiencing the symptoms of grief is normal. Holding onto them for a long period of time is not. Monitor your thoughts and those of your child to ensure you are progressing from the initial phases of grief and seek out grief counseling for support.