10 Signs You May Need Grief Counseling

East Orange, NJ funeral homes, cremations and grief go hand in hand. Everyone deals with grief differently, be it taking quiet time away from people, seeking comfort of friends and family, or almost anything else under the sun. Grief also takes a long time to pass, maybe months or even years. But how do you know when your grief is getting to be too much? If you see any of these 10 signs in yourself, it might be time to seek counseling for your grief.  

• Numbness to Emotion 
• Grief comes with a range of emotions, from sad and confused to even happy. Each emotion is acceptable during periods of mourning, but numbness is not. If you are feeling entirely numb and unable to feel any emotions, it may be time to seek help.  
• Avoiding Time with Loved Ones  
• Sometimes its easier to process grief on our own, but its also important to be with loved ones. If you find yourself consistently avoiding other people, you should consider counseling. 
• Loss of Enjoyment 
• You shouldn’t stop living your life completely during grief. You’re still allowed to pursue your interests and goals. If your grief is preventing you from pursuing activities that you enjoy, or enjoying things you normally would, you may just need help finding your way forward. 
• Fear of New Relationships 
• Apprehension of new relationships due to the fear of loss is common when grieving. However, in order to move forward and continue to grow, we must forge new relationships. 
• Escapism 
• Staying busy or trying to escape to avoid feeling sad is not a long-term solution. Eventually, you will need to face your feelings.  If you are don’t feel up to doing so on your own, it may be wise to ask for a helping hand. 
• Thoughts of Hurting Yourself 
• Feeling you want to hurt yourself should not be ignored, and must be addressed with a professional.  
• Inability to Continue Normal Activities 
• If you are unable to perform normal activities like going to work or school, or even eating or sleeping, you many need a help with coping. 
• Sudden Changes in Behavior 
• If you find that you don’t recognize the choices you’re making or the person you’ve become, this may be cause for concern. Keep and eye out for irrational anger, excessive drinking, and drug use.  
• Hallucinations/Voices 
• It may be comforting to imagine your lost loved one is with you, but hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t there is always a cause for concern. Be especially wary if what you are seeing or hearing is accusing or angry.  
• Inability to Move On 
• There is nothing to be ashamed of about not being able to move on. Sometimes we all need a bit of help. 

Loss is never easy, and we here at Plinton Curry Funeral Home would love to help you in any way we can. If you want more information on dealing with grief or funeral home and cremations in East Orange, NJ, visit us at Address: 411 W Broad St Westfield, NJ 07090, or give us a call at (908) 232-6869.