That old adage “tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all” is much easier for the person saying it than it is for the person hearing it. As humans, the need to attach ourselves to something – be it another person, a pet, a career or even a home is essential. But, what happens if for whatever reason that attachment or connection is no longer available to us? The natural response to that loss is grief. So, when it comes to grieving, what is normal and how do we cope with it? Well, let’s first make sure we understand what grief actually is. The most important thing is not to allow yourself or anyone else to put a judgement on your grief. Yes, you can grieve the loss of a relationship that only lasted a short time. Yes, it is normal to grieve the loss of a pet, and yes you can grieve the loss of somebody you knew and didn’t get along with. I had a client that grieved the death of a rock star even though they never met. The degree of loss is equal to the degree of attachment whether we… Read more »