Bereavement After the Death of a Child
Regardless of the type of loss, everyone grieves in their unique way. When a child dies, the grieving process rarely follows a predictable pattern. Indeed, charts and graphs depicting grief stages will never be able to predict such a complex, highly personalized human experience. When families with strong, healthy relationships lose a child, their grief processes may be individualized, but their relationships may survive and even strengthen as the family unit experiences the loss together. When a child is lost in a family with weak relational ties, family relationships may become fractured. The funeral homes in New Castle, IN are here to assist bereaved families in their time of need.
Marital Stress
Parents who have lost a child may experience shock, denial, anger, depression, hopelessness, guilt, isolation, disorganized thoughts, feelings of acceptance, and a variety of other thoughts and feelings. Mothers and fathers may cling to each other more closely, give each other space to grieve independently, temporarily distance themselves from each other, blame each other, mock the other’s grieving style, and so on.
Conflicts can arise when parents choose to relate to each other in vastly different ways after the death of a child. When a lack of understanding about each person’s ways of expressing grief causes marital problems, it may be time to seek help from someone outside the family or friend system. Professional family therapists with marital therapy training are ready to help.
The Need for Therapy
Grief is a natural part of the human experience. When people are grieving, it is natural for them to suspend daily activities for some time to express their grief privately. The required period of privacy, like the overall grief process, varies greatly from person to person. In general, if you are grieving, consider contacting a marriage and family therapist.
Therapy Types
A professional marital and family therapist may use any of the following therapy formats.
- Individual counseling
The therapist meets with a client one-on-one to help the client achieve personal goals.
- Family counseling
The therapist meets with several members of the family unit to assist family members in finding healthy ways to deal with the loss of a loved one and to foster strong family relationships.
- Group counseling
The therapist meets with a group of people from various families who have lost a child so that group members can learn from and possibly relate to one another in a professional setting.
Maintain a journal. It can be beneficial to write down feelings that are difficult to express verbally. Find a friend who will listen to you talk about your loss. Some friends may believe that discussing the loss is harmful. If you feel the need to talk about your loss on occasion, find a friend who will listen gently and without judgment. Create a new family ritual that honors the lost child in some way. Participate in a support group. Groups of people with similar life experiences, whether online or at a local church, can encourage those who want to maintain contact with others who share their beliefs. For more information about our service or if you need help, contact or visit the funeral homes in New Castle, IN. We’re here to help!
