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Houston Grief, Loss, & Bereavement Counseling

What is Grief & Loss Therapy?

Grief is a normal, universal response to loss in one's life. The more significant the experienced loss, the more severe the experience of grief may be. At The Resilience Center of Houston, we are here to help guide you through your experiences with our grief counseling, and loss and bereavement therapy in Houston.


What are a few Common Occurrences that Result in Grief & Loss?

Below are common occurrences that result in grief and loss.

  • death of a loved one

  • death of a pet

  • miscarriage

  • infertility

  • break-up or divorce

  • children leaving home

  • separation from friends or family

  • job loss

  • disability or chronic health condition


What are the Common Symptoms of Grief?

Grief often includes acute physiological distress, separation anxiety, obsessive dwelling on the past, and worries about the future. Below are common emotions associated with grief and loss:

  • Sadness

  • Relief

  • Yearning

  • Panic

  • Denial

  • Guilt

  • Numbness

  • Shock

  • Anger

  • Despair


What is Grief?

Grief is a process of learning that teaches us how to be in the world without something we love. We may be abruptly forced to operate under a new set of rules and make significant adjustments to our identity and sense of self. There is no set pattern to the grief process; everyone experiences grief uniquely and on a different timetable.


When Should I Consider Seeking Professional Help for Grief & Loss?

If you are unsure of when to seek grief, loss, and bereavement counseling or therapy, consider these occurrences:

  • When you lack a healthy support system in which to process your grief

  • When overwhelmed and unable to function daily (work, school, self-care, etc.)

  • When grief triggers a mental health condition, like depression or anxiety

  • When having thoughts of suicide

  • When grief persists more than 6-months after the loss


Approximately 1 in 10 grieving people develop Prolonged Grief Disorder. Without treatment, research shows the condition can persist indefinitely and result in other troubles, like chemical dependency, suicidality, sleep disorders, and a weakened immune system.


How can Grief & Loss Therapy Help Me?

Treatment of grief and loss can help and may address the below tasks.

  • Provide psychological education about the grief process

  • Identify and validate your thoughts and feelings

  • Address the impact of the loss on your life

  • Identify any negative coping skills

  • Develop positive coping skills

  • Help you build your support system

  • Set realistic goals

  • Plan to deal with setbacks


There are trained therapists at The Resilience Center of Houston who can walk with you on your grief journey. With empathy and expertise, we're here to provide you with grief counseling, and loss and bereavement therapy in Houston. Contact us for more information on our Houston grief counseling or loss & bereavement therapy.

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What are the different types of anxiety disorders?

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Generalized anxiety disorder involves excessive and persistent worry that interferes with daily life. Relentless worry results in physical symptoms, like restlessness, feeling on edge, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, exhaustion, and sleep problems. Topics of worry typically center on everyday matters, like appointments, home repairs, work responsibilities, and family health.

What is Panic Disorder?

Panic Disorder is characterized by recurrent Panic Attacks. Panic attacks present with severe and overwhelming psychological and physical distress, involving some of the below symptoms.

What are the physical symptoms of Panic Disorder?

  • Rapid heartbeat

  • Shortness of breath

  • Muscle tension

  • Sweating

  • Shaking

  • Restlessness

  • Dizziness

  • Tightness in the chest

  • Numbness or tingling

What are the psychological symptoms of Panic Disorder?

  • Feeling like you’re having a heart attack

  • Feeling like you’re going to die

  • Feeling impending doom

  • Feeling like you’re going crazy

  • Feeling like you’re losing touch with reality

  • Fearing you’ll lose control of yourself

  • Constant worry about when you’ll have your next panic attack

  • Fear you’ll embarrass yourself

What are Phobias?

A specific phobia involves intense and persistent fear of a particular object, situation or activity that is generally not dangerous. The experienced distress is acute and leads sufferers to go to extreme lengths to avoid what they fear.

What are common phobias?

  • Fear of driving

  • Fear of flying

  • Fear of vomiting

  • Fear of needles

  • Fear of confined spaces

  • Fear of being alone

  • Fear of leaving the house

What is Agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia is characterized by the fear of being trapped or stuck in circumstances in which escape may be difficult or embarrassing, or help might not be easily available. The fear is acutely distressing and interferes with normal daily activities. The person typically avoids the situation, needs a companion, or experiences extreme anxiety.

What are common situations agoraphobics fear?

  • Trembling        

  • Crowds

  • Enclosed Spaces

  • Open Spaces

  • Public transportation

  • Leaving the home

What is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder ?

PTSD can develop after a severe physical or emotional trauma such as a sexual assault, natural disaster, or serious accident. Those with PTSD feel intensely upsetting thoughts and emotions connected to their traumatic experience that persist long after the situation happened.

What are PTSD symptoms?

The symptoms of PTSD can be categorized into four areas.

Intrusion – repeated, unwanted thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks of the event

 

Avoidance – steering clear of people, places, activities, and objects that are associated with the event.

 

Changes in cognition and mood – loss of interest, distorted thinking, difficulties concentrating, loss of certain memories, negative emotions, hypervigilance, social withdrawal, and anhedonia.

Changes in behavior – social withdrawal, anger outbursts, recklessness, sensitive startle response, problems sleeping.

What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Social Anxiety Disorder involves excessive discomfort in social situations and a fear of experiencing embarrassment, judgment, humiliation, condescension, or rejection in social situations that can negatively impact work, school, and other daily activities. People with this disorder will try to avoid social situations or endure them with great anxiety.

What are commonly feared situations for those with social anxiety?

Commonly feared situations include attending parties, interacting at work, eating in public, or engaging in unscripted interactions.

What are common Social Anxiety symptoms?

  • Trembling

  • Blushing

  • Sweating

  • Rapid heartbeat

  • Mind goes blank

  • Stomachache

  • Speaks very softly

  • Avoids eye contact

What is Separation Anxiety Disorder?

Separation Anxiety Disorder is is characterized by excessive fear of being away from those we are close to, who are also called attachment persons.

What are signs of Separation Anxiety Disorder?

  • Anticipation of potential separation causes mounting fear

  • Persistent worry about the negative consequences resulting from separation

  • Obsessive focus on the multitude of situations that could lead to separation

  • Interferes with attending important activities, like work or school

  • Fears of sleeping outside the home and away from attachment persons

  • Nightmares about separation

  • Headaches, nausea, or vomiting

What is Selective Mutism?

Selective Mutism is a rare and debilitating childhood condition that involves a failure to speak in certain situations in which there is a natural expectation to speak. A child may talk at home, for example, and be nonverbal at school. The absence of spoken communication can significantly interfere with the child’s academic achievement and can stunt their social development and the formation of relationships with others. It is theorized that Selective Mutism may be an early and specific manifestation of Social Anxiety Disorder.

What are behaviors associated with Selective Mutism?

  • Clinginess

  • Temper Tantrums

  • Excessive Shyness

  • Social Isolation

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