Losing a loved one can be devastating, especially if it is forever and unexpected. Grief in general, whether from death, separation, or a broken family bond, can impact a person’s life in several ways. Particularly for working professionals, it can be even more troubling, as it can cast a long shadow over their careers. It can not only take an emotional toll, manifesting as difficulty concentrating, decreased motivation, and absenteeism, but it can also induce overwhelming feelings of hopelessness and despair, making it challenging to engage with work tasks or maintain a positive attitude.
So, what is the path forward? The OnlyMyHealth team interacted with Dr Divya Shree K R, Consultant Psychiatrist, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, to help understand how grieving people can also maintain productivity and manage their careers.
Also Read: Grief's Silent Toll: Here's How It Can Affect Your Body
How Loss Of A Loved One Impacts Mental Health
Loss, in all its forms, can affect a person's mind and mental health. If the feelings are left unmanaged and untended to, it can also cause long-term mental health problems.
In fact, a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that those who experienced unexpected deaths of loved ones were more likely to be diagnosed with conditions like depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Researchers noted that the risk was even higher for people who lost loved ones later in life.
These findings highlight the vulnerability we face after such a loss.
Grief can be overwhelming, leading to feelings of despair and hopelessness that can seep into every aspect of life, including work. Therefore, it is important to remember that you're not alone during this difficult time. Seek support from loved ones or mental health professionals to help you process your emotions and find healthy ways to cope with the loss.
Understanding The Role Of Grieving
According to Dr Shree, grieving is a process that one has to go through to reach acceptance of loss and reconcile with it.
She shares that there are several stages of grief, including shock, denial, guilt, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
"The aggrieved goes through these phases to come to acceptance of loss and lives the rest of his or her life with this acceptance, which helps 'move on' from the loss," she adds.
However, this is more difficult when it comes to loss from a separation.
As per the expert, guilt and anger become much more difficult to deal with and give rise to feelings of self-doubt, a sense of rejection, and deceit.
On Dealing With Loss And Hustling At The Same Time
Dr Shree recommends taking a break from everything to deal with the loss. She advises putting life on hold to process this pain.
This is because acknowledging your emotions, whether in the form of sadness, anger, or emptiness, is all valid. Bottling them up will only add to the frustration and negative emotions.
Another important thing that you must work towards is establishing routines, which involve setting small, achievable goals at work and sticking to a sleep schedule.
Most importantly, you must have a support system to lean on. This could include a trusted friend, family member, or professional.