Grief & Loss

You may not know you are dealing with grief.

Jacob (not his real name) had no idea that he was dealing with grief.

That’s because he wasn’t really dealing with it.

Most of us don’t. Especially when it doesn’t follow a familiar scenario, like the death of a loved one.

At least then there is usually a funeral or other gathering where we get to experience the pain of the loss and maybe even shed a few tears.

Grief isn’t just about death.

Grief is a natural reaction to the loss of anyone or anything important to you.

A big breakup. The death of a beloved companion animal. A physical injury or illness. A job loss. A relocation you didn’t want to make. A life-long dream that isn’t coming true. An aging body that doesn’t feel as strong. The parent who wasn’t there when you were growing up.

Grief is about change and loss. And both are inevitable parts of living.

Unintentionally avoiding grief often leads to the experience of feeling “anxious for no reason” or a sense of losing interest and meaning in life.

Left unchecked, the “unfinished business” of your untouched grief can turn into real depression.

There’s help for grief.

Depression is what started happening for Jacob.

It had been a rough year. First, his estranged father died due to complications from a long life of drug and alcohol abuse.

Then his girlfriend of nearly five years left him because he “had commitment issues.”

Work seemed like the only thing he had left.

That, and drinking, which he found himself doing more often.

Sleepless night aimlessly browsing social media to distract from getting in his own head about all the things he “should have done.”

He pulled away from friends, telling them he was “doing fine.”

You don’t have to go it alone.

Jacob knew he was struggling. But he didn’t know he was grieving.

Once we identified his grief, we were able to partner in turning toward it.

Asking and answering some tough questions.

Forgiving himself and others.

Making plans to move forward with greater clarity into healthy new relationships and meaningful plans.

The courage to turn toward our losses, grieve them, and learn valuable life lessons is possible with grief and loss support designed specifically for men.

Call me for a free 15-minute consultation to talk about how we can work through the grief and find more joy in your life. Call me at (512) 783-4508 or complete the contact form below.