Should you feel guilty if you can’t let go?
Grief is more than that deep sadness, sorrow and pain that occurs in a person after an extremely terrible incident, for example, the death of a loved one.
One thing sympathizers and people in general do not understand is that a bereaved person experiences too many deep emotions that even they who are feeling it themselves cannot explain or recognise. That is why it sometimes appears as though grieving people are inconsolable and irritable.
How Some People Mourn:
This is to show that people mourn in different timeframes. People respond differently to the same thing, that is why people mourn the loss of a loved one differently.
1) Immediate.
This should have been the regular norm —mourning bad situations as soon as it happens.
2) Continual.
Circumstances surrounding the death of a person as well as the relationship the deceased had with the bereaved can affect when they’ll get over their loss. However, some people never get over the loss of a beloved person. This is totally okay.
3) Eventual.
There are people who do not mourn painful events immediately, but do so much later when everyone else might have started to recover. This method might appear weird to some people, but it’s totally fine.
Why some people mourn this way is because when something bad happens, especially if it was unexpected, they take time to accept that it happened, and when it finally sinks in, the mourning process begins.
They won’t mourn until the reality sinks in. This is also okay.
I want you to understand and accept something, which is this:
“Even if you have experienced tremendous grief before, that does not in any way mean that you have the RIGHT to judge someone who is going through same”.
There are popular advices you must avoid from the depth of your heart if you really care about a grieving person and want to help them cope. These are:
1) Be Strong; Take Heart:
I can’t say this enough, this is awful. Some people do not have the courage to even want to stay strong when a loved one dies.
If you don’t know how to console a grieving person, then don’t! It’ll be better appreciated that you don’t show up for them at all than to show up and end up causing them more pain.
The truth is this, when you truly love someone, “letting them go” is definitely not the advice you want to hear.
To some bereaved, it feels like betrayal to let go of the person who meant everything to them.
Trying to reason with a bereaved person is a total mistake and you’re walking on an active volcano by trying to force them into moving on.
Everyone has their own way of grieving, and you should never berate a person’s feelings or tell them that they’re overreacting. Seriously, is it possible to overreact in a situation such as this?
2) You’ve been grieving for too long, it’s high time you let go:
As a person who’s been in this situation a couple of times and know lots of people who have, I don’t doubt that extended grief has detrimental health consequences. However, this isn’t good enough reason to mock someone over their feelings by telling them that they’ve overdone the mourning. This is because, apart from the health risks involved, there’s no amount of mourning or length of time that is enough or too much, that is, if you truly love the deceased.
3) Stop crying, it has already happened:
I wonder what prompts people to say this and what makes them think it’s okay to say it.
This is exactly telling a person how to feel, and making their feelings wrong. You are directly telling them in clear language that they’re being weak and foolish and that death isn’t worth a tear since it cannot be remedied.
Why The Advice To “Stay Strong” Doesn’t Help a Grieving Person.
1) You aren’t the one suffering.
Even if you have lost someone in death before, it doesn’t put you in a position to dictate how others should feel.
The same person wouldn’t die twice, which means that even if the bereaved had been in a similar situation once or more before, they’re not necessarily expected to repeat the same feelings and behaviour they had during the previous cases. It is a new person that died, which means the relationship they had/have with this person is peculiar. Everyone is different, that is why you’ll likely react differently when they get stolen away by death.
2) You’re making them feel weak, more helpless and more negative.
Your probably harmless advice puts the bereaved in a situation of extra sorrow, self-pity and unhappiness.
You make them feel angry at themselves for feeling the way they do, they hate themselves for not being strong enough, they feel stupid and hopeless.
What is more?
They might feel angry at the world and everything for being misunderstood during their darkest times.
Do you know the result?
When a person in a sorrowful situation feels misunderstood, it could negatively contribute to how they’ll come out of the situation. That is why some people become emotionless and monstrous after surviving a difficult situation, although some people become weaker. However, what you must understand is that ugly incidents mould people, it definitely does, and the more often, the worse. What will determine if they’d come out positive or negative is how they were judged and generally treated during their sad days.
3) You are belittling their situation and emotions.
By presenting your supposed encouragement in a judgemental manner, you are likewise telling the bereaved that their sorrow isn’t worth it, or that the situation isn’t big enough to give rise to the amount of sadness they feel. You are telling them to throw everything to the wind and move on like the person never existed.
Stages you go through after the incident:
Some people skip some of these stages, while some people keep repeating some of these stages, others feel them at random, and so on… That’s totally okay.
1) Denial.
When a loved one dies, the first emotional response from majority of people is denial. It’s extremely difficult to believe that such a thing could happen, especially if it was sudden and unexpected.
One Factor That Could Affect The Occurrence And Length Of The Denial Period:
Anticipation:
If a death was anticipated it may in some cases aid in a quick acceptance of the situation.
This is in contrast to when the death of a loved one suddenly occurs. This is often very difficult to come to terms with.
To be sincere though, anticipation does not mean that you won’t feel the death as you should. In as much as it helps some people get over it faster, it doesn’t change the depth of the sorrow in others.
I want you to know that no matter what your coping mechanism is, you shouldn’t feel guilty for it. People are different, and so is their reception to incidents and emotions.
2) Mental Pictures.
At a point, a bereaved person may start remembering the times they had with the deceased. These memories come both in dreams and real life.
3) Guilt and/or regret.
There are uncountable reasons a person would feel this way. It could be that they blame themselves for the death of their loved one for any reason at all, or because they think there is something they could have done to prevent it.
There are more reasons for this feeling which I cannot really write down at this moment, but they exist and people feel them, and it’s okay.
4) Numbness, anger, or both.
When the situation occurs, it feels like your brain has been uprooted and your head goes blank and empty. You feel nothing and understand nothing. For a long time it could feel like nothing matters in the world anymore.
Some bereaved people feel angry at anything and everything, including the cause of the death, in case they have an idea about what caused the death.
This is just a glimpse at how some people feel when they lose a loved one in death. Some people feel worse, while others surprisingly feel not so much.
Therefore, imagine trying to talk sense into someone in these shoes, how successful do you think you’ll get? You’ll hit a dead end and might make yourself a new enemy.
It’s easy, very easy to be misread as a thoughtless person if you fail to pay close attention to what you say or do to a truly bereaved person.
5) Mixed feelings and other unexplainable emotions.
In my situation, I was numb, I was crying and screaming, I was in serious emotional and physical pain, I was angry, I was confused, nothing felt real. I was bursting with emotions, I couldn’t understand some of my feelings.
What I feel these days though is deep sadness, confusion, denial and anger. I still have other emotions, but these ones are the most dominant ones.
These multiple and confusing emotions makes one feel like a walking volcano.
It feels like one has hit the end of life.
These are moments when one feel truly hopeless and helpless.
6) Feelings that are peculiar to you.
The crazy thing is that amidst all these emotions, there are times you have strange thoughts and feelings.
The problem with these emotions is that you really can’t explain to anyone because no one would understand, sometimes even you will not understand how you feel at that moment.
These are feelings that are usually caused by your nature as an individual, your relationship with the deceased and other factors that are peculiar to you.
7) Acceptance, partial acceptance or continued denial.
Some people accept situations too quickly and move on with their life, and many times, this coping mechanism comes in handy when they lose a loved one. As soon as they realise that there’s nothing else left to do to change the situation, they give up as fast as they can afford to and move on with their life as if nothing happened.
For some though, they feel what most bereaved people feel, but eventually they accept what life has thrown their way and try to let go.
On the other hand, partial acceptance is when someone refuses to let go of the memories and every possible reminder, even though they have already accepted that they wouldn’t see the deceased anymore, yet they don’t want to totally let go.
Lastly, there are people who will forever refuse to accept that their loved one is dead. They’d rather paint a mental picture of this person’s existence than deal with the pain and reality. This is totally okay because they are your feelings and you have the right to feel, but if this lingers, it is most advisable to see a Grief Therapist. In fact, the earliest you see a Grief Therapist after the loss of a loved one, the better, safer and healthier, because this pain is real and sometimes won’t just go away.
Factors That Can Contribute To How Fast You Let Go, Or If You Ever Will:
1) Who that person was to you.
Most times (although not without exceptions), who the deceased is/was affects how much you’ll be affected by their death
2) How your relationship with them was.
It’ll be a horrible mistake if I forget to mention this. No matter who the deceased was to you, if you had no close relationship with the person, your reception of their death would be different and lighter (if at all) compared to someone who had a very close and real bond with the deceased.
3) How appreciative you are as a person.
To be honest, there are people who are emotionally dead to the extent that they cannot form a real bond with anyone at all, be it their parents, siblings, spouse, etc.
These are people who intentionally refuse to allow themselves open up to the possibility of connecting with people. These people lack emotional depth and may not be able to fully form a deep connection with people they should have loved.
For this reason, such people won’t experience as much grief as every other person, that is, if they experience at all, so they’ll move on sooner than expected.
4) Your guilt and regret level.
There are so many reasons which may make a person blame themselves for someone’s death. I’m referring to people who had no contribution to the death of the deceased.
Some of the reasons for guilt and regret might be because you think that there’s something you could have done to prevent it from happening, or that you somehow contributed to the situation (even though you didn’t).
Nevertheless, I want you to know that as long as you have no bad intentions, as long as you haven’t done anything on purpose to hurt the deceased, then you are not to blame.
5) How old you were at their death.
Younger children deal with loss quicker, and depending on the age, they might grow up to forget.
On the same hand, older people move on quicker, especially if it’s a parent’s death. This is because they feel like the parents must have completed their lifespan.
Those who find it most difficult to get over circumstances like this are those within the age group of “youths”, especially if it’s a parent. This is because they have had enough to time to bond with the parent and fully understand the incident and the consequences. Yet, they’ve not had enough time to repay the parent’s love and sacrifices.
6) If you’ve had the opportunity to repay their love and warmth.
This point was somehow raised above.
If someone dear to you wholeheartedly sacrificed everything for you and loved you with all their heart, but suddenly dies before you get the chance to say a proper “thank you” for all their years of suffering and sacrifices, the pain hits different and deeper. You’ll not only feel sorrow for losing the deceased, you’ll also feel sorrow due to the fact that the deceased couldn’t get the chance to reap the good fruits of their labour.
Moreover, you’ll feel useless for not being able to repay the deceased’s kindness. You’ll feel like a parasite who sucked the deceased to death, but couldn’t give anything valuable in return that the deceased could at least enjoy.
7) Your emotional and mental state.
There are emotional and mental conditions that prevent people from feelings and understanding as much as they would have wanted had they not had the condition.
People in these conditions will not always react as other people, not because they want to be unfeeling, but because of the emotional and mental circumstances they have been subjected to.
If the cause is a medical condition or something along that line, you cannot blame them for not feeling so much, because they did not choose to be this way, it’s not their fault. Sometimes people in these conditions really wish they could feel things more than they currently can, and some people go to the extent of trying to force themselves to feel, especially in circumstances that they normally know they should react to.
You cannot blame people with emotional and mental difficulties for reacting differently than they should.
However, those who have their mental consciousness and understanding intact would feel sadness even if it isn’t up to the regular extent.
8) Nature of death.
‘How’ and ‘why’ a person died can contribute to how much and how long those who care about them deeply will grieve.
A person who suddenly dies without warning will draw out more grief from people than someone who has been in a situation where death is expected.
The truth is that there are people you can’t let go of especially considering the factors above.
If you think you’re at a place where you can’t let go, don’t beat yourself up, don’t feel guilty. In subsequent articles, we’re going to talk a lot about how to live with the incident, and how to live above it.
Remember, it’s often advisable to see a grief specialist to be on a safer and healthier side. Your life and mental health is really important.
How To Behave Around a Bereaved Person
One thing about grief is that telling someone to ‘get over it’ won’t help them. If there’s anything that might help lift the pains, that’d be ‘time’, or maybe ‘counseling’, but never your scolding and mockery. If there’s anything shaming a bereaved person would do, it would be to make it more difficult for them to heal, or they may come out different in a negative way.
So, what should you do?
Simple! Allow them to go through the entire process of grief without feeling ashamed.
However, if you feel that the grief has gone on for too long, or is happening in an unhealthy way, the right thing to do is to get them professional help and adequate emotional and mental support. Always remember that making a bereaved person feel ashamed or guilty for grieving won’t help make the situation better.
Why It Is Necessary To Go Through The Process.
If you cut short a healthy mourning process, you are unknowingly prolonging the morning process.
Sounds complicated?
Let’s take an example.
When my beloved and forever precious mother died, people did their best to stop me from crying and feeling the void. They may have had good intentions which might include ‘helping me get over it faster’, but that wasn’t what I needed at the time. The mere thought of ‘moving on’ felt and still feels like betrayal because my mum loved me to bits down to the last second of her life (she was conscious and was speaking till she gave up). We shared everything together, we called each other twins and were best friends.
Letting her go wasn’t an option, I needed another option (which I eventually figured out on my own).
Just like in my situation, forcing a bereaved person to let go of their beloved may not always be the best advice, if they’ll ever let them go, they eventually will. Meanwhile, there are other options other than letting go.
Therefore, never behave like a super righteous and super strong person around a bereaved person.
What do I mean?
Most sympathizers give off this vibe of ‘being above such deep emotional breakdown’. Just as what we discussed in the previous episode, some people lack ’emotional depth’ thereby being unable to feel as much as they should. In this instance, such a person cannot rightly be expected to understand the deep emotions you’re currently experiencing since they’re incapable of feeling them themselves. This kind of people may seem inconsiderate and unfeeling even when they do not wish to be.
Do you know why men get over breakups much later than women?
That’s because they delay the mourning process!
They either jump straight to dating someone new without fully recovering from the just ended relationship, or they’ll bury themselves in work and other activities, worst of all, they keep everything to themselves without a support group or a professional.
You can trick your brain temporarily, but eventually your natural inclinations will set in because you did not work on them from the roots.
Do you know what is worse?
Unattended emotions hit worse when they resurface.
Taking time to grieve may be a lot painful right now, but completing the process in a healthy way helps set you in the right direction to heal once and for all.
If you run away from the emotions which are meant for you to feel, you may need to keep numbing your emotions for a longer period of time in order to continue keeping the feelings under wraps.
This is the same reason why love that was harder to confess is often more intense than that which was quickly and easily done (this however, doesn’t in any way guarantee that it’ll last, this is only about the ‘intensity’).
This is because our brain recognises difficulties, cherishes them and gives them more preference.
The harder it is for something to happen, the more intense it usually is when it eventually happens.
What is the takeaway?
If you want to fasten the grief process of a bereaved person in a healthy way, the best option is to get them professional help so that the professional will help walk them through the entire process in the healthiest and fastest way possible.
The Three Major Ways That People Deal With The Loss Of Someone They Truly And Deeply Love
Like I always say, people cope differently. No matter what a person’s coping mechanism is, provided it isn’t exactly detrimental, the best thing to do for them is to let them be. Allow them to feel and experience the loss as much as they should without judging them, that’s the only way they can eventually recover or at least learn to live with the situation.
These are different methods I’ve observed in the bereaved, as well as from my personal experience.
1)Â Memories and Continuance.
Personally, I think this is my coping method. I try to keep as many flashbacks as I can, my brain has suddenly become an SD card for all the good times my mum had with us.
I try as much as possible to paint imaginary pictures of her presence and to convince myself that mum is still here at the mean time.
I hold my mum dear, now these memories are all I have left, so I try my best to keep them alive.
Not just these, I keep figuring out ways to keep mum’s acts alive. I try to live by the standards she set for me. I hope to fulfill her own unfulfilled dreams one day, the much I know and the much I can. It’s difficult to leave anything about her behind.
The major purpose is to keep her alive in a figurative way, and to feel like she’s still here for now.
2) Avoidance and Disappearance.
On the other hand, there are those who can’t bear the presence of any reminder of their loved one, they just want to run away from all the memories for now so that they won’t have to be confronted by the reality of what they’ve lost.
Some people might move away temporarily or permanently from where they used to live or constantly interacted with the deceased.
There are people who aggressively drown themselves in activities in order to constantly keep busy and keep their brains as numb as possible.
3) Mixed Reaction.
There are people who feel both ‘continuance and avoidance’ at the same time. It may come as mood swings or in any away it chooses to, the interests, desires and actions keep changing and swinging.
These coping methods all appear to have the same purpose, which is to ‘run away from the reality for a while or for as long as possible’.
Sometimes, the bereaved may not exactly understand that everything they’re doing is to escape reality, but that is just what it is.
Understanding this truth though shouldn’t make you feel guilty for acting the way you currently do.
Take a deep breath and remember how strong you are.
Do you know why?
Surviving an entire day without your beloved whom you never imagined to live a day without hearing from is obviously a level of strength from another planet.
So you are very strong, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Nevertheless, if you think that you are getting more overwhelmed and depressed by the day instead of recovering or feeling at least hopeful, consider seeking help for grief relief so that you can be helped through this tough time either by recovering completely or by learning methods to cope and keep living.
If you ever feel suicidal, call your country’s or region’s emergency number to stay alive. If this is the case, you might consider meeting a mental health or trauma professional before it gets out of hand.
How my brain reacted to my mother’s death
The reason I keep using my own experience is so you’ll know that you’re reading from someone who’s in your shoes. I’m not perfect and I’m not here to act like that.
I think I’ve said this before, my mother’s death was a sudden murder, that’s why it hits harder than it already should have.
Everyone who knew her mourned her because she was one of a kind and contributed immensely in a positive way to the lives of everyone she came across. As a result, when she died, those whom she had helped, was helping, and was about to help behaved like it was their loss and not ours (the family). People’s reaction was disheartening (from my point of view) because instead of us (the family) being comforted, we ended up being the ones comforting those who came to our home just to weep and scream.
HOW MY BRAIN REACTED
The first thought that came to my mind was “could this be true?”
I continuously screamed: is this possible? Is this possible? No, it can’t be. It’s a dream, I’ll wake up…
To be honest, this is something that I can’t emphatically state that I’ll recover from.
No, no! This is definitely not the first time I’ve lost someone close, neither is death the only kind of serious grief I’ve experienced, but there’s something about this that feels different.
In episode one I explained some reasons the same person might respond differently if the same incident occurs twice. I also explained that different people may react differently to the same incident and the reaction would still be okay.
The moment my mum breathed her last, it felt like something died in me.
Since that second till now, life feels like a daze, everything feels unreal, it’s as if I’m in a dream or movie. My brain feels both void and super stuffed with garbage, at if it’s not mine anymore. I can’t even feel my own existence.
Down till this moment, my brain hasn’t fully processed what happened and is yet to begin the process of recognition, let alone proceedings toward acceptance.
I still live in denial and somehow find that more comforting than outrightly accepting what happened.
I’ve been preventing myself from processing what happened and has been painting false pictures of mum’s presence in my head.
When my mum was taken to the morgue, I felt like we failed and betrayed her.
At another point, I began wondering if there’s a chance that she was still alive and maybe woke up in the mortuary, or maybe there was a chance that she hadn’t fully died at the time she was rolled into the morgue. I repeatedly asked my brother if he was sure that our mother was truly dead before going to the morgue, or maybe she was just in coma or any medical situation at all that gives her at least a slim chance at survival.
I hated when people tried to comfort me because I hate being reminded about mum’s absence and that was what each “take heart” I get from people serves as: a reminder rather than consolation.
Many people thought it was wise to remind me that there are those who were much younger than me when they lost their parent(s), so I was lucky to be 19 when mine happened… Like seriously? Was this really intended to make me feel better???
Some comforters’ choice of words contributed to the severity of my predicament.
What we need to understand is that even science hasn’t completely comprehended how the brain works, that is why it sometimes feels like our brain is working against us and what we have mapped out or expected it to do.
Though we have control over our brain, but not total control or anything close to that, so many times than we’d want, our brain will trick us and do and receive things it’s way.
Feel free to ask me questions under the comments section.
How past grief can affect subsequent ones
So, imagine this: you’ve experienced grief in the past, and now you’re faced with a new loss or challenge. How might that previous grief impact how you handle the current situation?
- Weaker: Sometimes, past grief can actually make you more vulnerable to future losses. It’s like your emotional resilience has been worn down, making it harder to cope with new pains and struggles.
- Stronger: On the flip side, going through grief in the past can also make you stronger. You’ve already navigated through tough times before, so you may have developed coping mechanisms and a deeper sense of empathy that help you face new challenges with more courage and resilience.
- Indifferent: In some cases, past grief can lead to a sense of emotional numbness. You might find yourself shutting down or distancing yourself from your feelings when faced with a new loss, almost as a way to protect yourself from further pain.
- Same: For others, past grief may not have a significant impact on how they handle subsequent losses. They might approach each new experience of grief as a separate event, without necessarily drawing connections or comparisons to what they’ve gone through before.
- Monstrous: In rare cases, past unresolved grief can manifest as overwhelming emotions that intensify with each subsequent loss. It’s like a snowball effect, where each new grief compounds on top of the existing unresolved pain, creating a cycle of deepening emotional distress. This can have great impact on the person’s character and turn them into a very dangerous individual. In most cases, this is just a coping mechanism where the person inflicts similar pains on other people hoping to make theirs bearable or in a way of seeking retribution. This is also a reason behind many acts of vengeance and cruelty. This person is just hurt, simply severely wounded and unconsciously seeking remedies for their emotional turmoil.
- Helpful: Lastly, past grief can also be a source of strength and wisdom in dealing with future challenges. It can serve as a reminder of your own resilience, your capacity to heal, and the importance of seeking support and connection during difficult times. Moreover, grief can make an individual more selfless, in a way that they want to protect other people from ever going through what they themselves have been through, or at least they try to become a source of comfort and support to others in similar circumstances.
In the end, how past grief influences subsequent experiences of loss can vary greatly from person to person. It’s a complex and deeply personal journey, shaped by our individual histories, coping mechanisms, and support systems. The key is to acknowledge the impact of past grief, understand how it may be affecting you, and to seek help and support when needed to navigate through the ups and downs of life.
Grief can deprive you of energy and motivation
Grief can truly be a heavy burden to carry, and it’s no surprise that it can zap your energy and motivation in the process.
When you’re grieving, it’s like a constant weight on your shoulders, making everything feel a little harder – from getting out of bed in the morning to tackling daily tasks that used to feel effortless. That emotional toll can drain your physical energy and leave you feeling depleted and fatigued.
And motivation? Well, grief can definitely put a damper on that too. It’s like the spark that typically drives you to take on new challenges or pursue your goals gets dulled by the weight of sadness and loss. Even the simplest tasks can feel overwhelming, and the things that used to bring you joy might suddenly feel unimportant or out of reach.
It’s important to remember that feeling this way is a natural response to grief. It’s okay to give yourself grace and time to process your emotions and adjust to this new reality. And when you’re ready, reaching out for support from loved ones, a therapist, or a support group can help you find ways to gradually regain your energy and motivation, one small step at a time.
Just remember, it’s okay to take things at your own pace and to prioritize self-care during this time. Your energy and motivation will return in their own time, and until then, be gentle with yourself and allow yourself the space to heal.
How grief impacts the career of an introverted creative
Ah, navigating grief in the midst of a career can be especially challenging for introverted creatives. As someone who thrives on introspection and depth, the emotional intensity of grief can hit even harder for introverts, impacting not just their personal lives but also their work.
For introverted creatives, their work often serves as an outlet for their emotions and a form of self-expression. So when grief strikes, it can feel like a double blow – not only are they dealing with the pain of loss, but it can also feel like their creative well has run dry. The emotional exhaustion and lack of motivation that come with grief can make it difficult to tap into that creative flow that usually comes so naturally.
And then there’s the added pressure of trying to maintain a sense of professionalism in the workplace while dealing with such intense emotions. Introverts may already struggle with sharing their feelings openly, so trying to navigate grief while balancing work responsibilities can feel like an overwhelming juggling act.
It’s important for introverted creatives going through grief to give themselves permission to step back when needed, to allow themselves moments of quiet reflection and self-care. Finding ways to channel their emotions into their creative work, whether through writing, art, or another outlet, can be a powerful way to process their grief and find solace in their creativity.
And reaching out for support from understanding colleagues, a trusted mentor, or a therapist can help introverted creatives navigate this challenging time with compassion and understanding. Remember, your emotions are valid, and it’s okay to take the time you need to heal and find your way back to your creative self.
How grief can cause camera phobia, social anxiety and shame in an introverted creative
Grief can have such a profound impact on introverted creatives, influencing not just their emotional well-being but also manifesting in unexpected ways like camera phobia, social anxiety, and feelings of shame.
For introverted creatives who are already prone to introspection and deep feelings, grief can amplify their existing social anxieties. The weight of their emotions can make it challenging to engage in social interactions, leading to feelings of isolation and a reluctance to put themselves out there.
And when it comes to camera phobia, the idea of being the center of attention or having their image captured can feel especially daunting for introverts processing grief. It’s like the spotlight becomes a magnifying glass on their emotions, making them feel exposed and vulnerable in ways that can be overwhelming.
On top of that, there’s often a sense of shame that creeps in for introverted creatives dealing with grief. The pressure to appear strong and composed in front of others, coupled with feelings of guilt or inadequacy for not being able to “snap out of it,” can create a sense of shame and self-judgment that only adds to their emotional burden.
It’s essential for introverted creatives experiencing these challenges to approach themselves with kindness and understanding. Acknowledging that it’s okay to feel vulnerable and seeking support from trusted friends, family, or a therapist can help them navigate through these difficult emotions with compassion.
Practicing self-care, setting boundaries, and giving themselves permission to step away from situations that feel overwhelming can also be crucial in managing camera phobia, social anxiety, and shame. Remember, healing from grief is a journey, and it’s important to be patient and gentle with yourself as you navigate through these complex emotions.
How an introverted creative can use the power of pain and grief to soar in their career and conquer camera phobia and social anxiety
Facing pain and grief head-on can actually become a powerful catalyst for growth and success in a creative career for introverts. It’s like using those raw emotions as fuel to propel you forward, even in the face of camera phobia and social anxiety.
For introverted creatives, tapping into their deep emotional well can lead to profound artistic expression. The pain and grief they’ve experienced can add layers of complexity and authenticity to their work, connecting with audiences on a deeper level and setting them apart in their respective fields.
When it comes to overcoming camera phobia and social anxiety, embracing vulnerability can be a game-changer. By acknowledging and accepting their emotions, introverted creatives can develop a sense of authenticity and courage that shines through in their interactions and public appearances. It’s about channelling that pain and grief into a source of inner strength and resilience.
Practicing self-compassion and self-care are essential components of this journey. Taking the time to nurture their emotional well-being, setting healthy boundaries, and seeking support when needed can empower introverted creatives to navigate through their challenges with grace and determination.
And remember, it’s okay to take things one step at a time. Building confidence and overcoming camera phobia and social anxiety is a gradual process, but with patience, persistence, and a willingness to embrace vulnerability, introverted creatives can harness the power of their pain and grief to soar in their careers and create meaningful connections with others.
