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Some common  responses to grief  are as follows.

• Reduced Concentration- there is a preoccupation with the loss of the loved one. Inability to focus and think is very debilitating. It can be hard to even find a reason to get up in the mornings. Don’t ask anyone to balance a checkbook, it just won’t happen. Just making simple every day decisions that were once unthought  of habits become huge tasks.

 

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•   Numbness- Shock is what this really is. There is a sense of unbelief that the body has a difficult time coping with. This is emotional as well as physical. This is not necessarily denial.  

 

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• Disrupted Sleep Patterns- Most definitely one sleep is erratic. In fact, even though one is absolutely wrought out and bone tired sleep is usually a rare commodity.  The mind is working hard to accept the facts of death of someone so close.  On the other hand it appears some people will sleep for far too long of periods. This could be a coping mechanism when one can’t face the truth of the reality of death, or it could be that the person sleeps because the body needs to heal from the extreme emotional trauma.

 

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• Eating habits change. Generally, food as no taste. Eating usually stops as there is absolutely no desire to eat as our bodies are working overtime to process the changes.

 

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• Roller Coaster of feelings- Crying is a healing emotion, yet there comes a point that the tears dry up for a time. Extreme physical symptoms come and go. Heart palpitations are common as well as shortness of breath. Laughing can seem like betrayal at first. We are still alive and laughing is a good step towards healing.

 

  In my personal experience there were many facets involved in the grieving process. I experienced most of the responses above along with others. Just know that even when you feel like you are going crazy you are not.  There are times that life seems surreal and you will doubt your own abilities to make decisions and move on to overcome the devastation of our loss. I do not take death lightly, but as a christian I have complete and unshakable faith that when one is a follower of Christ that we will meet again in heaven. Oh what a joyous reunion that will be. My hope is in knowing this, which helped me walk through that valley of the shadow of death.