Grief - a bitter-sweet experience...

Sometimes grief can feel overwhelming, and it can collapse us for years before we are able to turn towards it. Even our significant other, our very own partner, may not even be able to hold the torrent of emotion that can surface.  Even if we do show our emotion, we may not want our kids to see us upset or worse our partner may not want us to be unhappy, and so grief goes underground.

If our kids don't see us upset, they won't learn that its okay to process our emotions. They will see us as people who could hold it together, like a super hero, when really, we are collapsed inside our own emotional distress and turning to ways of numbing out to help ease the pain we cannot express to our loved ones. 

Writing about your grief and journalling can be helpful but nothing will beat a safe space and a trusted person to be around so it can surface and not be shut down. A good old fashioned cry, no a wail, is the only way to release this built up emotion and let it release and let go. Your counsellor is available to you in this capacity, being able to give you a landing to express your deepest grief and keep you safe while you unfurl. Always know that even though the grief is consuming, it can be a deep, bitter yet sweet experience.