It’s not anxiety we feel, it’s sorrow

Many people express their feelings of stress and unhappiness to me. Indeed, we find ourselves in a situation of great pressure, and even mental health professionals like me are not immune to anxiety attacks; they invade me sometimes. This is a normal response given our current situation, and it can even be considered beneficial and healthy. After all, staying alert is crucial for everyone. Feelings of worry and fear serve as protective mechanisms, keeping us alert and preventing us from falling into complacency.

Even in times when I’m not anxious, when I’m actively engaged and brimming with energy and strength to perform – distractions and staying busy are some of the effective ways to relieve anxiety – Yet I find myself found submerged, overwhelmed and in pain. I felt that many around me were struggling with similar feelings, which led me to delve deeper into the root of this emotion. Suddenly I understood: we are grieving.

Grief is the physical and emotional response to loss. We collectively suffered such significant losses last week. The experience of bereavement results in a deep feeling of grief, characterized as deep and intense sadness. “Woe is me now!” for the LORD has added sorrow to my sadness; I have fainted in my sighs and I find no rest. » Jeremiah 45:3. The distinction between sorrow and other forms of pain is incredibly valid: sorrow is a unique form of pain, one that penetrates the soul and offers no respite.

So, I realized that when I wake up every morning, witness a ray of sunshine or hear the song of a bird, there is a fleeting moment when everything seems normal. But quickly, the weight of grief sets in, following me until night returns. It’s not anxiety or depression. This is the experience of mourning.

Why is it important to recognize this distinction? Let us consider what the scientific literature in psychiatry reveals. This teaches us that grief and grief are difficult experiences that can be emotionally overwhelming and extremely intense. Beyond deep sadness, grief can manifest in many ways, such as anger, denial, guilt, and a feeling of disconnection. This can impact our physical health and our ability to sleep, eat, concentrate and function effectively.

However, professional literature emphasizes that this is a natural process. It is not a psychological disorder. And most importantly: in the majority of cases, as we all inherently understand, even without the help of mental health professionals, grieving people eventually find their balance, usually without the need for professional intervention. The path to recovery is not a simple, linear path. It varies from person to person. And maybe this loss will irrevocably change something in us.

Coming out of the pit of grief does not involve “forgiving and forgetting,” but even after a loss, you embrace new meaning and get back on track. Perhaps this is the most important message: I will rise, like all of us, together.