subject: Coping With Sadness And Loneliness With A Death In The Family [print this page] No one wants to lose a member of the family, but it is unfortunately a tragic eventuality that we will all have to face at some point or another in our lives. If you truly love someone, the loss of that person will obviously cause a significant amount of distress and negative emotion. These emotions are commonly manifested by sadness and loneliness.
While sadness and loneliness may seem like one and the same thing, they are actually different emotions with their own distinct characteristics. Sadness refers to a feeling of depression or dejection that may come from tragedy, frustration, disappointment, and clinical depression. When this occurs, the person affected may exhibit the typical signs of sadness such as crying, wanting to be alone, and general disinterest in anything that goes on around him. While most people routinely go through periods of sadness without showing any outward sign of emotional distress, the pain felt by some people can be so overwhelming that normal mental and physical function is impaired. With a death in the family, the sadness felt by all members of the household can be considerable.
The passing of a family member may also cause the surviving members to experience some degree of loneliness. This is particularly true for those close to the departed, as in the case of a spouse left behind by their partner. In relationships that had lasted for several years, the surviving partner may feel such a tremendous sense of loss that a return to normal day-to-day activity becomes difficult and even impossible. A person in such a situation may even end up shunning social contact altogether, and essentially live as a recluse for the duration of his life.
Before sadness and loneliness can progress to an extreme state, it would be advisable to pay attention to potential warning signs, particularly in adolescents and in the elderly. Everyone in the family is prone to the effects of sadness and loneliness of course, but it is the younger members and the elderly who are particularly prone to chronic depression that may arise from the loss of a close family member. The key here is not to intrude on the person's need to grieve-which in itself is an essential part of the recovery and healing process-but to make your presence felt. You have to make absolutely clear in no uncertain terms that you are there to support the grieving person, and that you will do everything necessary in order to prevent the condition from regressing further.
Keep in mind that you may encounter considerable resistance from family members suffering from sadness and loneliness. When a person is sad, loneliness and isolation often seem much more appealing than having to face the "real world". Nevertheless, it is your duty as a family to support each other as much as possible, and this may mean getting involved even when your well-meaning intentions are rejected. In more extreme cases, it may even be necessary to seek the help of a qualified therapist.
by: Gen Wright
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
