The Crazy Feelings of Grief

The "crazy" feelings of grief are actually a sane response to grief. The following examples are all symptoms of normal grief:

*distorted thinking patterns, "crazy" and/or irrational thoughts, fearful thoughts
*feelings of despair and hoplessness
*out of control or numbed emotions
*changes in perceptions (sight, taste, smell, etc.)
*increased irritability
*may want to talk a lot or not at all
*memory lags and mental "short-circuits"
*inability to concentrate
*obsessive focus on the loved one
*losing track of time
*increase or decrease of appetite and/or sexual desire
*difficulty falling or staying asleep
*dreams in which the deceased seems to visit the griever
*nightmares in which death themes are repeated
*physical illness like the flu, headaches or other maladies
*shattered beliefs about life, the world, and even God

Grief will take longer than you've ever imagined. It tends to intensify at three months, special dates and the one year annivesary.

Grief is a journey, a process and there is resolution. Hear the words of Scripture:

"I weep with grief; my heart is heavy with sorrow; encourage and cheer me with your words," Psalm 119:28, TLB

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted," Matthew 5:4

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds - curing their pains and their sorrows," Psalm 147:3, AMP

"I cried to the Lord in my suffering and he heard me, he set me free from all my fears," Psalm 34:6, NLT

"For You have delivered me from death, my eyes and tears, and my feet from stumbling and falling. I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the living," Psalm 116:8-9, AMP

Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well, I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow," Jeremiah 31:13

"'You will grieve but your grief will turn to joy,'" John 16:6