Mental Health with Ms. Bruno: Grief

When interviewed, Ms. Bruno suggested that grief and its relationship to mental health was a very important topic to touch on. During the interview, she mentioned many aspects of grief and ways to cope. Grief is the feeling one experiences after a sad or tragic event, usually the loss of a loved one. First, Ms. Bruno mentioned how grief affects the body. She explains, “We may experience physical reactions such as changes in appetite or sleep, crying, tense muscles, anxious behaviors, low energy, trouble concentrating. People might also experience emotional and mental reactions such as sadness, anger, guilt, recurrent thoughts of memories both happy and sad from the deceased.” She also mentions how grief is a normal emotion and that there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Grief is a rollercoaster, and there is no telling how someone will feel. One day they may be having a good day and be feeling happy, and another, they may feel as horrible and upset as they did when the death first occurred. Some may even experience guilt for having good days. Next, Ms. Bruno stated ways to best deal with grief. These included taking care of yourself, reaching out to family members, friends, or teachers, journaling feelings and memories, getting enough sleep, and exercising. In conclusion, grief is a very justifiable emotion that many people experience, and there are many ways to cope with it and to help overcome it.