There are few things worse than losing a loved one or friend. Grief can leave you reeling and throw your mental health for a loop, leading to depression, stress, anxiety, and more.

Unaddressed grief can influence your life for years. That’s why it is best to consider professional help to help you grieve. Wherever you are located in Iowa from Ames to West Des Moines or even Des Moines, or anywhere else nearby, Mental Health Match can help you easily find an experienced therapist or counselor who best meets your needs.

Symptoms and Stages of Grief

Everyone experiences grief differently, but there are some common symptoms of grief that signal you should seek help:

• You blame yourself for your loved one’s passing.
• Your grief is so profound that you find it difficult to keep up with your everyday routine (getting out of bed, showering, going to work, etc.)
• You purposely isolate yourself.
• You have unexplained new anger, anxiety, or depression.
• You turn to alcohol, drugs, or sex to numb or distract from your loss.

The 5 stages of grief include:

• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance

You may not experience grief in this specific order. You may also feel disenfranchised grief, which is grief that does not fit into societal norms of what you should be grieving. Disenfranchised grief can include grief for a pet, a lost dream, a breakup, infertility, or more. No matter what type of grief you are experiencing, your symptoms may look different from those in the above list.

To learn more about grief types and stages, read licensed therapist Keiko Wolfe’s article on how to move through grief. You can also check out our founder’s personal story of how therapy helped him move from grief to growth.

Get Grief Counseling Today!

A grief therapist can provide much-needed support for you as you go through the stages of grief and find your footing again. And with Mental Health Match, finding a qualified grief therapist is easy! Start by browsing grief experts below or by using our free therapist matching tool.

Iowa Grief Therapists - List Your Practice on Mental Health Match

Looking to expand your network? At Mental Health Match, we match clients to therapists and counselors specializing in grief therapy. Get set up for new referrals in 10 minutes or less. 60 day free trial, with no credit cards required to start. Join now.