As a holistic healer, I see people who are dealing with grief all the time. There are many types of grief. Grief is loss of someone or something that we love dearly. Grief can cause physical, mental, and emotional issues to surface that can endure for a very long time, weeks, months, years, and in some cases a lifetime.

Divorce, bankruptcy, family disputes, and of course death can all bring about feelings of grief. There is a mourning period for that which might have been that is individual for each person going through the process. Depression, anxiety, physical ailments (both major and minor), stress, and loss of enjoyment in the everyday process of living, can all manifest during this period.

Typically, a person will move through the levels of:

Denial (This is not happening.)

Anger (Why is this happening?)

Questioning (What if something had been done differently?)

Acceptance (It did happen and I can accept it now.)

However, a person can also juggle between all of these levels for various time intervals.

Many times when a major loss first happens, especially an unexpected death of a loved one, medication is required to take the edge off the feelings that surface. But, oftentimes this can also lead to a dependence on that medication in order to keep those feelings at bay. In order to move along in the grieving process, however, those feelings must ultimately be faced and acknowledged.

There are several holistic types of treatment which allow a person to deal with loss and also cope with the everyday world around them, without leading to dependence and addiction, including:

Acupressure, Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Aromatherapy, Herbs, Tai Chi, Yoga, etc.

I have included several websites with loads of information to help you or someone you love deal with grief holistically. The main thing to remember is that grief is an individual process, and no one can anticipate how long it will take someone else to deal with their feelings of loss.

I am including a link to a book that a dear friend of mine has written called, “My Son Todd, and My Guardian Angels. The book is about the loss of his 21 year old only child, and how he managed to deal with his frustration, anger and fear. It is an insightful look at one man’s journey through grief, and is an inspiration for others who are dealing with similar loss.

My Son Todd and My Guardian Angels