Grief Counseling and Support in Central Georgia

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is difficult. Hospice Care Options understands that terminal illness and the death of a loved one present huge challenges in your life. We offer friends and families the support they need to help them work through this time. Hospice services do not end with the death of the patient.

Bereavement support is offered to the surviving family members for 13 months following the death of a loved one. We have a group of caring and compassionate professionals who provide counseling and support for those who have lost loved ones.

Five Stages of Grief

There are five commonly known stages of grief:

• Denial – In the first few days after a death, feeling numb is common. At first, some people act like nothing has changed. Even if we know in our heads that someone has died, it can be hard to accept they’re not coming back
• Anger – It’s normal to feel angry, and it’s especially normal after someone dies. Death can seem cruel and unfair, especially if you think someone died too soon or if you and that person had plans for the future. People also often feel angry at the person who died or at themselves for things they did or didn’t do before they died
• Bargaining – When we start making deals with ourselves or, if you’re religious, with God. We want to think that if we do certain things, it will make us feel better. It’s also common to keep thinking about things that happened in the past and ask a lot of “what if” questions, wishing we could go back and change things so that things would have turned out differently
• Depression – When we think of grief, we usually think of sadness and longing. This pain can be very bad and come in waves over a long period of time (months or years). Life can feel like it has lost all meaning, which can be scary
• Acceptance – Most people find that the pain goes away over time and that they can accept what has happened. We may never be able to “get over” the death of a loved one, but we can learn to live again while keeping their memories close

While this layout may give some individuals comfort, these stages don’t always occur in order and may take years to work through. Grief varies from person to person, as well as the situation and the individual lost.

Grief Support

Staff time spent with patients and their loved ones is an essential component of hospice. This includes after a patient has passed away. Hospice is important not only for the patients we serve but for the grieving families we help guide through the process of loss.

When is it Time to Seek Grief Counseling?

Most people who have lost a loved one will benefit from talking to a trained grief counselor. However, if you’re in a lot of emotional pain, you may need to attend grief counseling.

How do you know if you need the help of a professional? Here are some signs that you should talk to someone about your grief:

• You feel depressed or suicidal
• Crying, insomnia, weight loss, rage, irritability, and panic attacks are frequent indications of distress
• You struggle with self-care
• You can’t believe your loved one died
• You go to locations you used to go with your loved one, hoping to see them, or you avoid situations that might remind you of your loss
• You’re addicted to alcohol, drugs, or gambling
• You or others worry about you
• You’re bashful and avoid socializing
• Your family and friends can’t help you through your loss, or they can’t for enough time
• You’ve lost a lot in a short time
• You may feel guilty about how you treated a loved one who died, known as bereavement guilt
• Your troubling thoughts include replaying how your loved one died

Grief Support Options

There are many options for grief counseling and support. Hospice Care Options can help select the option that best suits you, your family, or your friends.

• Individual Support – Personal visits, phone calls, and scheduled correspondence, as requested
• Memorial Services – An annual Service to remember the loved ones who have passed during the year
• Therapeutic Support Groups – Supportive environment to share and learn with others who are in similar situations
• Social Support Meetings – Scheduled social gatherings where scheduled activities help those in attendance deal with loss