The pain of grief and loss seems unbearable to even imagine at times. Even harder to imagine or experience is the pain of losing a child. Most people have the belief that children should bury their parents. Unfortunately, this is sometimes reversed, and the pain can be excruciating. This blog post discusses the topic of dad’s grief from child loss from an EMDR therapist’s perspective.
The Pain and Trauma of Child Loss
There are so many variables and situations throughout life that may lead to child loss. Losing a child may be expected, as in an illness or cancer or it can be completely unpredictable. Both ways of losing a child carry their unique mental challenges. From medical appointments and waiting for results to receiving an unexpected call or knock on the door. Here is another perspective on the pain of losing a child by the Grief and Loss Center. Whether the loss is expected or unpredictable, grief and loss inevitability follow, usually intertangled with trauma.
Complexities of Child Loss
Losing a child can create a painful yet challenging form of grief and loss for fathers. This is because we often have dreams and aspirations for a child that are ripped away. When a child dies, those dreams become shattered. This leaves holes in the plans we created, riddled with a visceral sense of pain. Another painful realm of child loss is watching similarly aged children achieve milestones your child would have. Â These can be eerie reminders that show up years after the loss occurred. Dads (and moms) also have the idea of protecting their children from harm. When this belief breaks, trauma can ensue. Any form of loss is difficult; however, child loss carries its own process of grief and healing. Working with an expert trauma therapist can help bring healing into your life.
Healing from Child Loss
A trauma therapist, whether online or in-person, can help you heal from the loss of a child. There will always be a level of sadness, which is a natural response. This part doesn’t go away. But the healing from trauma can help you move through the guilt, shame, and all-consuming thoughts of what you could have done differently.
Losing a child can spur men to become even more emotionally numb. Men already struggle to connect and express their internal distress and mental health challenges in life. This can become exacerbated after losing a child. Therapy can help to reconnect the body and mind, allowing for trauma integration and healing.
EMDR Therapist Near Pleasant Prairie, WI
Child loss can create many challenges for fathers as they continue with their lives. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can be a great way to heal from the trauma of loss. I am certified in EMDR therapy and can help you heal from the pain and loss you carry. If you or someone you know could benefit from EMDR therapy, call 720.295.6703 or submit a form online here to start the process. We’ll then schedule a free 15-minute consultation call to ensure we are a good fit to work together. If we both agree to work together, we’ll schedule our first appointment during this call. I look forward to hearing from you.
