This year has seen a lot of deaths as well as a lot of serious illnesses. And grief can begin long before the actually death of a friend or loved one, human or animal. Grief can also come from the death of someone famous, if the connection is strong enough.

This year has been so tough that it even intruded on writing this blog.\u00a0 As I was assembling my thoughts and getting everything in order, a good friend called to tell me she has breast cancer \u2013 one breast for sure and probably both.\u00a0 She\u2019s on a fast track to surgery, which is good, she has a good prognosis, which is good but she\u2019s still going through a lot.\u00a0 And, because I care for her, the announcement has meant I am too.\u00a0 I\u2019m sharing this so you, whomever you are reading this, will know this blog isn\u2019t some intellectual exercise, but is something I\u2019m writing about because it\u2019s affecting my life too.<\/p>\n

This year has seen a lot of deaths as well as a lot of serious illnesses.\u00a0 And grief can begin long before the actually death of a friend or loved one, human or animal.\u00a0 Grief can also come from the death of someone famous, if the connection is strong enough.<\/p>\n

But grief doesn\u2019t only come from a death of a person or companion animal.\u00a0 The loss of a job can cause a level of grieving similar to the loss of a person.\u00a0 This year has seen a lot of folks losing jobs, or having family members lose a job.\u00a0 The problem comes when a person is not aware that a life change like that can cause severe, real, palpable grief.\u00a0 They wonder if there\u2019s something wrong with them, feel like they\u2019re losers \u2013 after all, they only lost a job and here they are feeling this great sadness.\u00a0 Are they cracking up?\u00a0 A total waste of a human life?\u00a0 Totally weak?<\/p>\n

The answer, of course, if none of the above.\u00a0 They\u2019re experiencing a very understandable shock\/grief reaction and they need some support.\u00a0 So if you know someone who has lost their job be kind to them and maybe even suggest they look for some support to help them through this time.<\/p>\n

Ironically, other major life changes can cause grief.\u00a0 Graduations, weddings, births, even a new house or apartment can be a situation where grief arises.\u00a0 Our self-image is changing dramatically during these events.\u00a0 Once we graduate we lose our identity as a student.\u00a0 We come into a wedding as two individuals and leave with new identities, we are now married \u2013 a part of a team and the single individual we were no longer exists.\u00a0 Women\u2019s bodies dramatically change when they become pregnant, and over the course of their pregnancy, they begin to identify themselves with those changes.\u00a0 Then suddenly, they give birth and they lose that pregnant woman to become a new mother.\u00a0 And moving into a new house or apartment means that Mr. X of 1234 Green Apple Circle no longer exists and has become, instead, Mr. X of 5678 Calle Grande.\u00a0 These are wonderful changes, but they can bring up grieving as well as celebration.<\/p>\n

In acupuncture and Traditional Oriental Medicine (T.O.M.), the Metal element is strongly affected by grief.\u00a0 The organ systems associated with Metal are the Lungs and the Large Intestine.\u00a0 Practitioners will often treat Lung or Large Intestine points to help patients appropriately grieve by breathing in life and releasing the \u201ccrap\u201d they\u2019re holding on to.\u00a0 Acupuncture and T.O.M. can help with grief, both new grief and long-standing deep-rooted grief.<\/p>\n

Of course, just like everything else that acupuncture and T.O.M. can treat, various practitioners are more or less trained and able to treat grief, so if you or someone you love decides to try acupuncture and T.O.M. treatments, talk to a variety of practitioners before making your final decision.<\/p>\n

As we move along the year, from the Autumn\/Metal season to the Winter\/Water season, grief can become solidified.\u00a0 The basic nature of Winter is cold, hardening things and keeping things unchanged \u2013 frozen even.\u00a0 By using appropriate warming techniques, herbal formulae and needle techniques; acupuncturists can help their patients avoid freezing into a pattern of long-term grief.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not easy to talk about loss or the fear of loss but it is vitally important to reach out to someone. \u00a0If acupuncture and T.O.M. aren\u2019t your thing, there are plenty of highly trained psychologists and psychiatrists who can help.\u00a0 If you are of a more spiritual bent, there are clergy members of all faiths and denominations trained to help.\u00a0 There are even special grief counselors.<\/p>\n

So if you or someone you love is facing the terminal illness or death of a loved one, please remember there are a variety of avenues available to help you and that, unlike some of life\u2019s experiences, it really IS best to share this experience with someone who has the knowledge, tools and compassion to help you through.<\/p>\n

In Loving Memory \u2013
\nJ\u2019hana
\nMichael
\nRobbie
\nMiriam
\nBaby Caleb<\/p>\n\n