115 N. Marion Street, Suite 6 Oak Park, IL 60301

Grief and Loss

Although grief is the normal reaction to a loss of something meaningful to you, it can be devastating and difficult to manage. We support you through your grief by helping you understand the process and giving you tools to manage your life after the loss.

It Helps to Deal With Your Loss

Everyone will experience grief in our lifetime; there is no way around this. Since no two people are the same, we all deal with grief in our own way. Some people cry, others become isolated, and some of us find solace in remembering what caused the grief. Grief can be caused by the sudden death or separation of a loved one, loss of a job, death or loss of a beloved pet, or any number of other changes in life such as divorce. Interestingly, some people believe becoming an “empty nester” or even retiring is a joyous occasion but there are many that don’t. We all grieve for different reasons, and it’s okay and well within our right to do so.

But grief that lingers too long can interfere with your social life and your job, cause other mental issues such as depression or anxiety, or lead to serious matters such as suicide. Don’t allow your grief to control your destiny. At Begin Within Counseling, we are ready to listen and help you deal with your loss. It is our desire that you regain full control of your life. Whatever problem you are facing, you have the power within you to gain strength and to overcome this struggle. Grief counseling can help you regain control over your life.

Don’t Linger in Sorrow. Get Help Today.

Sometimes when people grieve, they stop living. Why? Because when you lose something very close to you, it is like you have lost a piece of yourself. But with professional grief counseling, you can begin again by restoring and rebuilding everything that was lost. While you will never get the person back that passed away, or your marriage may not be restored, you can still learn to move on with your life.  Beginning again starts with understanding who you were before your loss, and getting to know who you are after the loss.

We offer a complimentary grief counseling consultation.
To learn more about how you can receive help dealing with your loss contact us today.

Alexis and Carmen - The Loss of a BFF

Alexis and Carmen had an inseparable and lasting friendship. They weren’t only friends but cousins, related. When you saw one, you saw the other. They worked in close proximity to each other, so they went to lunch together.  They shopped together. They went on double dates all the time. They even dated best friends. When people saw them together, they saw lasting, cohesive friendship.

One day, that friendship ended when Carmen died a sudden death. After the funeral, Alexis couldn’t cry, but was very sad and depressed. Months later, her sadness grew immensely, even leading to panic attacks and fear to where she had problems sleeping at night; became a little paranoid about being in the house alone; and was experiencing loss of appetite and eventually serious weight loss. Alexis was so afraid to talk to anyone about what she was going through because she thought people would call her silly, or tell her that she should be well healed from Carmen’s death.

A year later, Alexis’ pain grew and became so unbearable that she decided to share with someone how she had been feeling since her BFF died. It was recommended that Alexis seek professional help. After a few months of grief counseling, Alexis grew stronger, gained control of her emotions and was able to resume her normal life.

I’m sure most of us can relate to Alexis’ story in some way or another. Our story may not be the same; but unfortunately, losing someone very dear to us can leave a huge hole in your heart. The pain, loss of appetite, loss of weight, and emptiness that Alexis experienced is all part of the grieving process. But the good news is, Alexis found help and resolve by seeking professional grief counseling.

(The names of the individuals in the following short story about grief have been changed for privacy purposes)

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