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Everyone grieves differently, which means you may not experience the same emotions after losing someone as the next person. Yet, in some cases, grief may get delayed due to factors that prevented you from processing your loss when it happened. You may not feel immense sorrow during your loved one’s funeral, for instance, but the feelings can manifest days, weeks, or even months later. Here are some signs you could be experiencing unresolved or incomplete grief.

How to Tell if You Have Unresolved Grief

1. Anger

Oftentimes, people push grief aside to deal with obligations like funeral planning, work, or day-to-day responsibilities. Yet, leaving the emotional impact of loss unprocessed can result in an accumulation of anger. Irritability may be ongoing, or an outburst may occur, seemingly out of nowhere.

2. Numbness

Numbness isn’t an uncommon reaction after a loss. In fact, you may go through the initial loss and funeral feeling numb—regardless of whether the death was unexpected or not. Yet, if feelings of apathy linger for weeks, this could indicate depression, which warrants professional help.

3. Addictive Behaviors

funeralSome people turn to alcohol or substances to cope with their sadness after a loss. When these behaviors become a habit, they can interfere with daily life. Swap out drinking or using for healthier strategies, like taking a walk or connecting with friends. If you’re unsuccessful, it may be time to look into substance abuse counseling.

4. Fear of Loss

Understandably, losing someone close to you may make you fear the loss of everyone you care about. This can cause behaviors like withdrawal, or conversely, over-dependency on a partner. Left unaddressed, these behaviors could become patterns in relationships.

5. Hypersensitivity

It’s natural to feel more sensitive and vulnerable after you’ve lost someone you love. You may feel wired and hypersensitive as a result. When these emotions stick around, however, it may be helpful to speak with a counselor to process the fear of loss you may be feeling.

 

Everyone processes loss in their own unique way, which is why the team from Porto Funeral Home maintains the utmost level of compassion and understanding when working with families. Having served New Haven County, CT, since 1931, they provide respectful funeral services to honor those who have passed and work with surviving loved ones to ensure every wish is fulfilled. Explore their services online, or call (203) 467-3000 to reach their East Haven location or (203) 934-5000 for their West Haven facility.

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