What is Anger and Anger Management?
Anger is an emotion that everyone experiences, a natural response to perceived threats. Anger becomes a problem when it can’t be managed healthily. It is natural and generally an automatic response to forms of pain, both physical and emotional. It can manifest in many forms of severity from mild to severe, often occurring when people feel unwell, threatened, rejected or are experience some type of loss. It can sometimes be referred to as a ‘secondary emotion’ which occurs following the experience of pain. Pain does not always cause anger – the anger that results is due to a combination of pain and the anger triggering thought.
• What can trigger or cause anger?
Thoughts that can trigger anger may range from assumptions, evaluations, personal assessments, interpretations and evaluations one develops about others. It can often be said that this anger is developed and targeted towards someone.
If left unresolved, anger can manifest and lead to explosions of outbursts, and behaviours such as throwing things, yelling, as well as violent attacks towards others inflicting harm and injury.
Each person learns and expresses aggressive anger in many different ways. For some, it can be learnt during childhood when the young person copies the behaviour of others who influence them, who are angry or are hostile and make threats in their childhood environment. An example may include a child who grows up in an environment where one parent belittles the other parent, which the child then learns and recreates this behaviour when they enter their own relationships with their partners. In can be difficult for people in these situations to identify their anger, as they have learnt and seen this to be a “normal” behaviour.
• Symptoms of Anger?
The primary cause of anger is often a situation or an event that occurs differently to how we expected. It can cause both physical and mental changes in us.
Physical Symptoms: these may include:
– Change in heart rate, an acceleration
– Change in breathing
– Muscles tensing
– Release of neurotransmitters and hormones into the body
– Increased blood flow which may cause flushing of the face.
– Poor attention as our body prepares to ‘fight’
Emotional Symptoms: the different areas of the brain have different roles, which include keeping your emotions in balance and in proportion. Anger can be an emotional response where we believe an idea or concept has been violated. It also might trigger other emotions such as sadness, frustration or disappointment.
• How common is Anger?
Anger is a common occurrence within the community. It can be normal and even healthy, however is becomes an issue when the person is unable to control the anger in a healthy manner. It can happen regularly; because we didn’t complete something as well as we expected, or have the things we want when and how we want them.
• Recognising Anger that is out of control.
Everyone experiences anger to some degree, but when it becomes out of control and deconstruction, it can have negative effects across your life. This can be seen by alienating friends and family, violence and inability to complete daily tasks. Consider asking yourself questions such as:
“How do I know when I am angry?”
“What events/people/places/things make me angry?”
“How do I react when I’m angry?”
“How does my angry reaction affect others?”
• How can Anger be managed?
There are many strategies to use to help manage anger. The effectiveness of these will differ for all individuals and some people may require therapy intervention to help use these strategies successfully. Some examples of how to manage your anger include:
– Taking time out. Count to ten, take some deep breaths and remove yourself from the physical environment /person if you are able to.
– Once your calm, express your anger: once your calmed down and thinking clearly, express your feelings of frustration in an assertive but non confrontational way
– Get some exercise: physical activity can be an outlet for anger for some people. Exercise can stimulate various emotions that can leave you feeling calmer and happier.
– Think before you speak: in the heat of the moment, it’s easy to say things we don’t mean. Take some time to think and collect your thoughts before speaking
– Identify possible solutions
– Don’t hold a grudge: forgiveness is a powerful tool. It can help you to learn from the situation and prevent you from allowing anger and negative feelings to crowd out the positive ones.
– Use humour to release tension
– Practice relaxation techniques
– Identify when you need to get help: learning to control anger can be very difficult for some people. Consider seeking help if your anger seems out of control, causes you to do things you regret or to harm others.
Substance Related Disorders
What are Substance Related Disorders?
Disorders can be categorised as either substance abuse or substance dependence. A substance can be defined as a physical or chemical matter which can be ingested to alter heighten ones senses or functioning. Substances can include alcohol, drugs (i.e. cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, crack, heroin). Some of the more commonly used and accessible abused substances are caffeine and nicotine.
Substance Abuse
This can be defined as the patterned use of a substance, where the user consumes this substance in amounts and ways that cause harm to the user and / or others. Studies have shown that there is a genetic component linked to substance abuse. Other studies have shown that abuse can develop as a coping mechanism for people to deal with and get relief from other issues in their life (ie personal relationships, work stress).
• Symptoms of Substance Abuse?
Substance use presenting of a period of 12 months which results in a.) recurrent failure to complete major day to day obligations such as attending work/school/home domestics, b.) recurrent use of substances which are in some way physically hazardous (i.e. drink driving) c.) repeated use leading to legal issues, d.) the person continuing to use the substances despite the problems it is having on their social and interpersonal relationships.
Signs and symptoms which may indicate a person have substance abuse also includes: health problems, social problems, injuries, unprotected sex, morbidity, violence, motor vehicle accidents, suicide and physical or psychological dependence (see below under Substance Dependence)
• How common is Substance Abuse
An individual’s initiation into using drugs and alcohol often occurs during their adolescent years. Studies have shown that a large number of adolescents while wean out of this during their adult years. However, substance abuse can continue and lead to dependence for some, while others may develop this later in life due to the above mentioned life stressors.
• How can Substance Abuse be Treated?
Treated methods are varied and can involve a combination of many depending on the substance and the person. Research has shown that no one method is superior and has also highlighted the strength of social support. Often, formal intervention is required to assist the person is seeking psychological and medical treatment plans. From a psychological perspective, there is a wealth of scientific evidence that supports the use of various counselling models, including cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing and behavioural psychology. Medically, a number of medications have been approved for the treatment of substance abuse. This is best directed through your GP and specialised Psychiatrist.
Substance Dependence
This can be defined as a compulsive need to use substances to function normally. It is further clarified as substance use history that includes the following: a.) substance abuse, b.) continuation of use despite the problems it creates for the person and others, c.) an increase in tolerance (needing more of the substance to achieve the desired response), d.) withdrawal symptoms.
• What are some of the causes?
Research has indicated several theories that play a role in drug dependency. These include a genetic component, self medication theories developed from substance abuse and factors associated with ones social / economical development.
• How can this be Treated?
Research indicates that no one method of treatment is better than another. Detoxification needs to be administered due to the dangerousness of some associated withdrawal symptoms. There are many community based organisations which can provide support to individuals, including AA or NA.
Bullying and Harassment
Bullying and harassment is a behaviour that makes someone feel intimidated or offended – it is considered unlawful under the Equality Act 2010. It is an intentional aggressive behaviour which can be physical or verbal harassment, which results in an imbalance of power. Bullying can cause people to feel upset, afraid, embarrassed and anxious. If it involves the work or school place, it can cause the victim to fear returning to these places. Without intervention, bullying behaviour is frequently repeated. Bullying and harassment can be hard to recognise and may not be obvious to others. The victim may think they are overreacting or don’t report things as they seem ‘trivial.’
• Signs of Bullying and Harassing Behaviours:
– Spreading malicious rumors
– Unfair treatment
– Picking on someone/teasing
– Undermining someone
– Exclusion or victimization
– Regularly undermining a competent worker
– Denying someone’s training or promotion opportunities (workplace bullying)
Bullying and harassment can happen:
– face-to-face
– by written communication
– by visual images (i.e. pictures of a sexual nature, embarrassing pictures of coworkers, emails)
– by phone
Bullying and harassment can cause in many psychological and emotional injuries. This includes anxiety, panic attacks, clinical depression, post-traumatic stress, shame, guilt or an overwhelming sense of injustice.
• How can this be addressed and the victim supported?
Counselling can play a vital role in complaints about bullying and harassment. In workplace settings, this can also provide a confidential avenue for an informal approach to resolve the issue before it escalates.
Maladaptive Behaviours Theory
This is often referred to a ‘misbehaving.’ Not all children choose to be successful at schools. The resulting behaviour is the student behaving according to their intellectual abilities and emotional needs. Children in this position can feel like school is helpless. They feel weak and as a result of their failures academically, they choose to engage in these behaviours which results in further failure. With each failure, more feelings of pessimism are built and they can often be treated by their peers as weak and useless. This becomes a vicious circle where the treatment causes increased feelings of worthlessness and pessimism which strengthens the inappropriate behaviours from others. This is referred to as the “maladaptive self fulfilling cycle.”
• Categories of Maladaptive Behaviours
1. Attention Getting Behaviours: these are formed from the child not feeling like they are having their needs are met. These behaviours give the child relief from routine of school and they can escape responsibility. For the child, these behaviours feel logical to them as they are provided with a mistaken sense of self confidence as they are getting noticed by the other students and teacher.
2. Power Seeking Behaviours: this results from when the child doesn’t get the attention they want and acts out of jealousy or envy to keep others from looking better than them or in control. In the child’s mind, they decide that if they can’t be number one, than no one should be. They want to prove to others that they can’t be controlled and that they are in control of their all their decisions.
3. Revenge Behaviours: these are behaviours that occur when the child feels they have lost control, are being controlled by another and seek to punish that person. By hurting another or getting even, they feel power, wanting to hurt the other person no matter what it will cost them.
4. Display of Inadequacy Behaviours: this is seen in students who are physically present but withdraw from interacting with peers and others in the school community. They are happy to let the teacher have their way and choose passive resistance to express their dissatisfaction, discontent or defeat.
Low Self Esteem
Self esteem can be used to describe a person’s overall sense of self worth or personal value. It can involve a variety of beliefs about the self, including their own appearance, belief, emotions and behaviours. Self esteem is important as it has a large influence on our lives, our relationships, goals and accomplishments, and how we live our life.
Components of Self Esteem
• Self esteem is an essential human need which is considered vital for survival and normal, healthy development.
• Self-esteem arises automatically from within based upon a person’s beliefs and consciousness.
• Self-esteem occurs in conjunction with a person’s thoughts, behaviors, feelings and actions.
• What Causes Low Self Esteem?
People with low self esteem can lack confidence in their social relationships and often feel like they are a failure. They may not assert themselves and instead exhibit dependent type behaviours.
Research indicates that low self esteem develops in childhood, often from adverse experiences within the home environment, lacking safety or love, receiving excessive criticism, physical or sexual abuse, problems with their physical appearance or health. During adulthood, adverse experiences that may contribute to ones self-esteem, include unemployment, marital or relationship difficulties, financial problems, poor health or psychological trauma.
• What are the symptoms of Low Self-Esteem
– Lack of social skills
– Decreased self confidence
– Lack assertiveness
– Have difficulty giving their opinion on topics or asking for what they want.
• How is Low Self-Esteem diagnosed?
Problems and issues relating to low self esteem are recommended to seek professional health and evaluation by a mental health practitioner. This is important to help determine if the low self esteem is associated with any specific psychological issues. Underlying causes of low self esteem are anxiety, depression, personality issues, eating disorders and bullying.
• How Can Friends and Family Help?
Support networks are important for the person experiencing low self esteem to help them seek treatment. Close family members can also be included in counselling sessions for psycho education, and providing the home support for the person. Close friends and family can also help monitor for further symptoms of anxiety and depression. They can offer both emotional support and financial resources.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying condition. It is often known as the ‘war wound’ but is it actually the result of any environments that traumatize, creating an overwhelming threat to a person and destruction in their sense of security. It is not limited to where it can stem from. It can happen in childhood abuse cases, domestic violence cases and the workplace.
• What are the Symptoms of PTSD
Symptoms typically start three months after the traumatic incidence, however in some cases, it can take years for the symptoms to show. Symptoms may come and go, and also intensify when in stressful situations. Symptoms are commonly grouped into three categories:
1. Intrusive Memories:
• Flashbacks or relieving the event for seconds or minutes at a time.
• Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event
2. Avoidance and Emotional Numbing:
• Avoiding thinking or talking about the traumatic event
• Feelings of emotional numbness
• Hopelessness about the future
• Difficulties concentrating
• Avoiding activities you once enjoyed
• Difficulties maintaining relationships
3. Anxiety and Increased Emotional Arousal:
• Overwhelming guilt / shame
• Trouble sleeping
• Irritability / anger
• Being easily afraid or startled
• Hearing or seeing things that don’t exist
• How is PTSD diagnosed
Diagnosis is based on a combination of signs and symptoms, in conjunction with a thorough psychological evaluation. Diagnosis is specific and based on symptoms in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Criteria for evaluation include
• You experienced or witnessed an event that involved death or serious injury, or the threat of death or serious injury
• Your response to the event involved intense fear, horror or a sense of helplessness
• You relive experiences of the event, such as having distressing images and memories, upsetting dreams, flashbacks or even physical reactions
• You try to avoid situations or things that remind you of the traumatic event or feel a sense of emotional numbness
• You feel as if you’re constantly on guard or alert for signs of danger, which may make it difficult to sleep or concentrate
• Your symptoms last longer than one month
• The symptoms cause significant distress in your life or interfere with your ability to go about your normal daily tasks
• How can PTSD be treated?
Treatment of PTSD is important in helping the individual regain their sense of self. With successful treatment, people can learn to manage and cope with their symptoms. Treatment often combines a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Several types of psychotherapy can be used alone or in conjunction. Therapies include:
• Cognitive Therapy: talk therapy which helps you to recognise the ways of thinking and cognitive patterns that are keeping you stuck
• Exposure Therapy; often used in conjunction with cognitive therapy. This therapy technique helps the individual to face the thing that they are finding scary so that you can learn to cope with it effectively.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): this combines exposure therapy with a series of guided eye movements that helps the person process traumatic memories.
• How can PTSD be prevented?
It is not uncommon for people who have experienced a severely traumatic event to have PTSD symptoms in the beginning, such as guilt, anxiety, fear and reliving the event in your mind. At the time of the event, people may not feel like talking about what happened and their feelings, however getting support early on can help recovery. This may mean talking to supportive friends and family, or seeking professional help. Getting help and support at this stage can help prevent normal stress reactions from getting worse and possibly developing into PTSD. Support is also important to help the individual not turn to unhealthy coping strategies such as drugs and alcohol.
Gambling – When it Becomes a Problem?
Compulsive gambling can be defined as the uncontrollable urge to continue gambling despite the impact and toll that it takes on your life. It becomes a problem when the person cannot control how much they are spending, such as thousands of dollars in five minutes of playing the slot machines – more than what the typical person can earn in any job or profession.
• Signs of a Person who Needs Help:
– Constant / frequent compulsion to risk money or assets beyond what they can afford.
– Getting a thrill from increasing their amounts of gambling.
– Gambling with money which has been allocated for rent/mortgage payments
– Self-delusion about their ability to observe ‘winning patterns’ and beat the odds.
– Borrowing or stealing money to gamble
– Borrowing money against the equity of a home or other property in order to gamble.
– Lying or hiding things to conceal gambling activities
– Gambling as a way to escape problems / low self esteem / depression.
• How can Gambling be Treated?
There are several treatment approaches to help people conquer gambling addictions. However, treating a gambling addiction can be challenging. This is firstly because people have difficulty in admitting that they have a problem. Acknowledging that there is a problem with gambling is major contributor to treating gambling. Treatment is best approached through the following three avenues:
1. Psychotherapy: behaviour therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy has been shown to be useful in addressing gambling addictions. Behaviour therapy involves exposing the person to the belief that they want to unlearn how to gamble and to change this behaviour and reduce the urge to gamble. Cognitive behaviour therapy focuses on the unhealthy and irrational beliefs and aims to replace them with positive and helpful thoughts.
2. Medications: in some situations, medication such as antidepressants and mood stablisers can be used to help the accompanying problems associated with gambling, but are not intended to ‘cure’ the gambling itself.
3. Self Help Groups: this can be helpful for some people, especially in maintaining recovery.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Separation anxiety disorder can be described as a psychological condition where an individual experiences an increase in excessive anxiety as a result from separation from something or someone who they have a strong emotional attachment (is person or home). It is generally used to describe as the fear that children have of being separated / parted from their parents and guardians. Between 8 to 24 months of age, a child will experience a normal amount of separation anxiety and is considered part of their childhood milestones. It typically decreases during childhood. It becomes an issue when children approach preschool and school and are still experiencing this anxiety. They develop a more serious form of this condition and it is diagnosed as separation anxiety disorder.
Separation Anxiety Disorder can have interfere and effect the child’s ability to interact with their peers and engage in normal aged based activities. The child can become isolated from others, difficulting forming friendships, reduced attendance at school, missed opportunities to learn new activities and the child may become depressed, withdrawn and appear apathetic.
Separation Anxiety Disorder is defined as occurring when:
– Anxiety impacts and interferes with the child and subsequently parents lives.
– The severity of anxiety is inappropriate for their developmental stage and age
– These characteristics continue for at least 4 weeks.
• Signs and Symptoms of Separation Anxiety Disorder
Fussing and crying are considered to be the somewhat ‘classic’ signs of separation anxiety. The following are examples of how separation anxiety disorder may present in children:
• Throwing tantrums and screaming at the parent.
• Dislikes being separated from the parent
• Gets worried that they or the parent may get hurt or involved in an accident
• Refusal to go to day-care / kinder / school
• Child refusing to be left at others places without the parent
• Child complaining of being sick when not with the parent.
• Contributing Factors
Factors that may contribute to Separation Anxiety Disorder can result from a variety and combination of cognitive, biological, environmental, child temperament and behaviours factors. Examples (and is not limited to:) attachment relationships with parent / carer, low parental warmth, overprotective or intrusive parental styles.
• Treatment Options
Non pharmacological treatment methods are the first and general treatment option. Pharmacological treatment is generally for extreme cases only. Other recommended treatment modalities include:
– Behavioural therapy: this is conducted with a psychologist and involves an approach of exposure based therapy, such as emotive imagery, systematic desensitisation, modelling and contingency management
– Contingency management: an effective form of treatment for younger children which involves using a reward and tangible reinforcement when the child exhibits signs of independence. This requires strong parental involvement for successful outcomes.
– Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: working with a psychologist, this aims to help the child reduce their feelings of anxiety by recognising what causes the anxiety, discussing possible solutions to these situations, developing a coping plan and evaluating this plan
• Prognosis
It is very important for the child to receive support and treatment to identify the anxiety causing triggers and to work on increasing their exposure to these to facilitate their ability to tolerate separation over time more effectively. Child who feel empowered also feel more capable of facing these anxiety provoking situations. Studies have also shown that parents / caregivers who are aware of their own emotions are able to more effectively communicate a sense of safety and confidence about separation.
Enuresis
Commonly called bed-wetting, is voluntary urination that occurs during day or night at an age at which bladder control has normally matured. It isn’t considered to be of concern before the ages of 6 and 7years. When this becomes an issue for the child, it can impact on the self esteem, lead to feelings of humiliation and restrict their engagement in activities. Primary bed wetting can be due to a delay in the development of the child’s nervous system that controls bladder functions. It can also be associated with hormonal abnormalities of the antidiuretic hormone. Secondary bed wetting may be due to either psychological problems or medical disorders, such as a urinary tract infection, urinary tract abnormalities, or diabetes.
• Possible Causes and Contributing Factors
There are many reported possible factors that contribute to enuresis. The most common cause is a neuro developmental delay. The other common cause is a strong genetic influence. Possible other causes of enuresis include anxiety, overactive bladder, ineffective voiding and too much sugar/caffeine based foods.
• Signs and Symptoms
Children are commonly toilet trained around the ages of 4 and 5 years. They will generally tend to outgrow bed wetting on their own. When a child is continuing to have bed wetting incidences beyond the ages of 6 and 7 years, it may be worth seeking professional input. Other signs to look for include wetting the bed at night after a period of being dry.
• Treatment Strategies
It has been recommended that strategies to address this start by looking at bladder training, with exercises to coordinate and strengthen muscles of the bladder and urethra. Various techniques have been explored however more success has been shown from developing routines around toilet times, avoiding certain food or drinks that may contribute to incontinence. In some circumstances further medical advice may need to be sought.
Grief
This can be defined generally, as a natural, human response to a significant loss. Each person will experience and express grief in different and unique ways, as no two losses will ever be the same between people. It can also be defined and expressed due to cultural traditions, previous experiences with loss, current stresses and individual belief systems.
Grieving is the time for people to come to terms with what has changed in their lives. It is NOT an illness. Its not simply something people can ‘get over’ but it is about being able to learn to live with the loss, live life with meaning again. There is no given time frame as everyone experience of grief and grieving will differ. For some it can extend over years.
• Symptoms of Grief
These can fall into different levels and responses:
1. Physical: this includes loss or gain of weight, not attending to self care, wearing different clothes and makeup, paying more or less attention to looks.
2. Emotional: crying, sadness, fear and anxiety, anger, helplessness, guilt, reduced confidence, irritability, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities.
3. Cognitive: slowed thinking and processing, talking to deceased loved one, flashbacks, confusion, having trouble making decisions.
4. Spiritual: having a sense of closeness or distance to God, isolating self from spiritual community, anger towards God, sensing the deceased persons presence.
5. Social: relationship issues, preoccupation with own feelings and ignoring others, isolation or withdrawal, lack of enjoyment in previously enjoyed activities.
• Coping with Grief and Loss
Grief is a common experience for most people and can is likely to occur more than once through their life. It can be a very painful experience, but studies have shown that 80 – 95% of people gradually find ways to learn to live with their loss, though support of friends and family to talk and express their feelings. For others, professional help can be beneficial.
When to seek Professional Help?
Sometimes the circumstances of a death can be very distressing and traumatic for those loved ones. They may be specific circumstances that make expressing grief and loss complicated such as cultural values. The following are recommended as a guidance for seeking professional help:
• If you don’t have people around that you feel comfortable talking to or who can listen and care for you
• If you start finding it difficult to manage daily tasks such as personal care, looking after children, going to work
• Persistent thoughts of self harm or hurting others
• If your are over using or turning to drugs or alcohol
• If you feel your anxiety levels have increased, including possible panic attacks.
• After a period of time you find that you are still preoccupied with and distressed by grief.
Bereavement
Bereavement is the period after a loss during which grief is experienced and mourning occurs. It is often a term to described being deprived of someone by death. The length and severity of ones experience of bereavement depends on factors including how attached the person was to the person (or pet) who died, and the amount of preparation time there was anticipating the loss. It’s the process of letting go of a loved one who has died.
The death of someone you love is one of the greatest losses that can occur. However, bereavement can also occur following other losses, such as the loss of your health or the health of someone you care about—or the end of an important relationship, through divorce, for example.
• Types of Bereavement
– Loss of a Child: this can occur during infancy such is in miscarriage or still birth. This can bring parents a lot of grief and trauma, with evidence showing that this holds greater long term risk factors for parents. They may assimilate and try to live with the grief, which makes moving on more difficult. The nature and severity of the death can vary and each individual will respond difficulty, however comforting support and early intervention have shown greater outcomes. Some may experience jealousy and ency towards others who follow through with their pregnancies
– Suicide: this has become a growing epidemic over the last few decades. Losing a child through suicide is sudden, traumatic and affects all loved ones who were impacted by that person. There are many unanswered questions and parents and loved ones are often left feeling angry, hurt and have more difficulty then others experience grief and loss to freely express their emotions. Finding support and proactive healing for those impacted on is important in coping.
– Loss of a Parent: if a child experiences the death of a parent at a young age, this may result in long term psychological harm. During adulthood, it can be experienced in many ways, with factors such as the age of the parent and the form of relationship held, impacting on the grief response.
– Loss of a Spouse: this form of loss is devastating and usually a powerful loss as the partner often forms part of the other. A factor is also the way the loss was experienced; death from illness is experienced differently from a tragic, unexpected loss. Depression and loneliness is common, and many will benefit from professional help
• Getting Help
Everyone responds differently to loss and their experience of grief and bereavement will be unique. If a person experiencing grief and bereavement does not feel that they are coping, its important to get help. Grief counselling from a psychologist can help the person go through the grieving process and to accept what has been lost by talking about it. It is used when people are experiencing serious grief reactions. The aim of grief therapy is to be able to identify and facilitate solving the problems that the person has been having with separating from the person who has died. It can facilitate:
• Describing normal grieving and encouraging the bereaved to accept the loss by talking about it
• Helping the bereaved to identify and express feelings related to the loss (for example, anger, guilt, anxiety, helplessness, and sadness)
• Helping the bereaved to separate emotionally from the deceased, as well as to make decisions and live alone
• Helping the bereaved to understand his or her methods of coping
• Describing normal grieving and the differences in grieving among individuals
• Providing continuous support
• Providing support at important times, such as birthdays and anniversaries
• Identifying coping problems the bereaved may have, and making recommendations for professional grief therapy, if necessary
In grief therapy, the mourner talks about the deceased and tries to recognize whether he or she is experiencing an expected amount of emotion about the death. Grief therapy may allow the mourner to see that anger, guilt, or other negative or uncomfortable feelings can exist at the same time as more positive feelings about the person who died.