The death of a close family member, spouse, friend or colleague is a universal experience. Yet, for each of us, our loss is intensely personal. Grieving is a process by which we heal ourselves. And the mourning process too.

Grief is a natural reaction following the loss of a loved one, friend or co-worker. Grief also plays an important role in the healing process for each of us. There is no "right way" to grieve. Each of us will do it in a manner which best fits our personal way of coping with loss.

You are not alone. You have friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and church groups that are there for you in times of grief.

There are a wide variety of reactions that people report experiencing during the grieving process. These include reactions such as sadness, anger or guilt, loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating or sleep problems. Seek out suggestions from those you rely on to help you manage the reactions you are having. Don't try to do this by yourself.

Let others know what they can do to help you right now. Grieving is a process, so you might need to ask for different types of support from your family or friends at different times. What you need in the first couple of days may be different a week from now. Let others know how your needs are changing.

In the early stages of grief, things around us may seem chaotic and not make much sense. Our normal way of doing things has been interrupted. Try to select a couple of activities in your routine that you can begin again. Doing familiar activities can be comforting because they don't require a lot of thought and allow you to successfully begin to manage your life again.

Everyone's grief is unique. There is not a guide to tell you when should either start or stop grieving. However, if you feel that your grief reactions are worsening or not improving as quickly as you thought, there are many resources available to help you through this difficult time. Remember help is only a phone call away and immediate assistance can be obtained through your local hospital if needed.