Understanding Grief: An Orlando Therapist Explains What to Expect After a Loss
Understanding Grief: An Orlando Therapist Explains What to Expect After a Loss
Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC
You have recently experienced a loss, and you feel overwhelmed and lost. You don't know how to cope with the pain. You feel exhausted from intense emotions that won't allow you to catch a break. One minute, you might feel numb and completely disconnected from everything around you, only to feel completely overwhelmed by emotions that can't translate into words the next—like you're drowning, unable to catch a breath. It's a lot. If you're feeling this way, you're not alone, and there's nothing wrong with you.
As an Orlando Therapist, I want to help you understand what to expect during the grieving process and how to make space for healing.
At Mindful Living Counseling in Orlando, our experienced counselors offer counseling, support, and guidance to help you process loss in a way that feels right.
What Is Grief? An Orlando Therapist Explains Emotional Response to Loss
Grief is a natural response to loss, but it's also one of the most intense and complicated emotions we experience. It can leave you feeling isolated, devastated, and unsure of how to move forward. While many people have heard of the five stages of grief, it's important to understand that grief is often unpredictable; it doesn't follow a timeline, and each person finds a way to process loss in a way that feels right for them.
Healing takes time, and no one can predict when things will start to feel better or when you'll come to terms with your loss. However, talking to a counselor can give you a supportive space to process your feelings, find help, and discover ways to cope with life after a loss.
Why are the Five Stages of Grief a Framework Rather than a Rule?
The five-stage model—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—was initially developed by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross to describe how people facing terminal illness come to terms with their own mortality. Over time, this framework has been applied to all kinds of grief, from losing a loved one to navigating significant life changes like divorce, job loss, illness, or even becoming an empty nester. However, grief is deeply personal. Some people experience these stages, while others process loss in entirely different ways. There's no "right" way to grieve—what matters is allowing yourself the space to move through it at your own pace.
Grief vs. Mourning: Understanding the Difference
Grief and mourning always go hand in hand, but they're not the same. Grief is our internal experience of loss. It's what happens inside—the thoughts, emotions, and pain that come with loss. Mourning, on the other hand, is how we express that grief externally. It's the actions, rituals, and shared moments, such as crying, honoring loved ones, talking about our loss, attending funerals, or creating meaningful traditions. Mourning is an outward expression of loss that provides structured ways to express emotions and honor the loss.
What to Expect While Grieving
Most people think of grief as something that only happens when a loved one dies. But grief doesn't just come with death. People grieve all kinds of losses, and it often happens in ways we don't expect.
Kids Leaving Home
Instead of feeling excited when your child leaves for college, you suddenly become irritable for no apparent reason, as if everything and everyone is getting under your skin. You find it nearly impossible to focus and go about your usual stuff. You burst into tears out of the blue and struggle to find interest in things you once enjoyed.
Going Through a Divorce or Breakup
Maybe you've gone through a breakup and feel like you've lost a part of yourself. A divorce or breakup doesn't just mean the loss of a relationship. It's about losing your hopes, plans, routine, and sense of security. Research shows that breaking up can feel like drug withdrawal. When you lose a significant relationship, your brain reacts much like it would to losing an addiction.
Dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, surges in the brain when you're in love, strengthening attachment. When the relationship ends, dopamine levels drop sharply, causing you to crave your ex and leading to emotional and physical distress. You might struggle to focus, feel unmotivated, or find yourself replaying memories, longing to reach out.
Losing a Job or Moving to a New Place
Many people go through a grieving process after a major life change. If you have recently become unemployed or relocated to another part of the country or the world, you may feel unsteady, as if the ground beneath you has shifted. You might struggle to accept what has happened, wishing everything could return to normal. You feel disconnected from the life you knew, and this fills you with a sense of desperation, wondering what will happen next or how you will continue in these new circumstances.
Facing a Chronic Illness
When you learn that you are seriously ill, grieving your old self, your independence, or the uncertain future can be just as painful as any other loss.
Learning That Your Child Has a Disability or Serious Illness
Nothing truly prepares you for this kind of news. The grief that comes with learning about your child's disability or illness can feel like the ground has been pulled out from under you. You feel overwhelmed by a mix of fear, sadness, and uncertainty. You may grieve all those reminders of what your child cannot achieve, and grief may pop up over and over when a sibling or peer hits a milestone.
Losing a Pet
Pets aren't just animals; they're family. We take care of them and share our lives with them. The house feels emptier, the routines change, and the unconditional love they used to give you is suddenly gone. For many people, the pain of losing a pet hits just as hard as losing a person.
Losing a Loved One
Losing a loved one can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. At first, it might not even feel real. You go through the motions, waiting for it to sink in.
Some days, out of nowhere, waves of sadness, anger, and exhaustion knock you down when you least expect them. You might struggle with guilt, disbelief, or emotional numbness on other days. You might feel constantly drained, and no amount of sleep helps—or you may struggle to sleep at all. You may feel it's impossible to stay strong for your children, parents, or partner when your heart is breaking.
Ready to Start With an Orlando Therapist?
Grief is overwhelming, confusing, and exhausting. It's not something you can "get over." No matter what kind of loss you're facing, it's okay to grieve. It's okay to feel lost. And most importantly, you don't have to go through it alone.
At Mindful Living Counseling in Orlando, we can help you learn to carry your grief in a way that allows you to keep moving forward. Anxiety and trauma counseling in Orlando will help you understand that grief is a process, allowing you to process your emotions, understand your grief, and find ways to cope that feel right for you.
Fill out our New Client Consultation form here.
Once you complete the form, you’ll be invited to schedule a 15-minute phone consultation with one of our Orlando therapists.
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Not Quite Ready for Orlando Therapy?
If you're struggling with grief, you don’t have to face it alone. We’re here to support you every step of the way. Reaching out for help can feel overwhelming, but healing starts with one small step. Contact us today to begin your journey toward peace and renewal. In the meantime, explore our expert-guided resources to help you manage stress, build resilience, and find moments of calm.
Orlando Therapist Resources
An Orlando Therapist Explains 5 Stages of Grief
Orlando Anxiety Therapist Shares: How to Handle Life's Curveballs
Anxiety Therapist Shares A Guided Practice: Parts Circle Meditation
Anxiety Therapy Orlando Shares A Guided Meditation: Presence & Intention
Orlando Therapist Shares Box Breathing Technique: A Tool for Anxiety
Other Therapy Services Offered at Mindful Living Counseling in Orlando
We offer a variety of therapy services to address diverse needs! Our options include EMDR therapy, Trauma Therapy, Teen Therapy, Couples Therapy, and toxic relationship therapy. Additionally, we provide guided meditations.
Orlando Therapist Lauran Hahn
Lauran Hahn, LMHC, is a therapist based in Orlando who specializes in assisting clients with anxiety and trauma. She possesses certifications as a Sensorimotor Psychotherapist and EMDR Therapist and is acknowledged as an EMDRIA Approved Consultant. Lauran's goal is to help individuals find a sense of tranquility in their bodies, mental peace, and improved connections in their relationships. She also helps clients in healing from toxic relationships and offers guidance to help them avoid similar situations in the future.