Grieving is a process we all go through as a reaction to a loss and the grief we feel. Most people go through distinctive stages and children often do the same, although we need to remember that these stages are defined by those who do not know individual children. In order to lessen the shock of the event, children sometimes deny that it has occurred. Children may formulate many questions about recent events, and these questions can overwhelm a child. Repressed emotions can lead to physical symptoms like headaches or restlessness.
Activities can help release emotions.
Children can feel responsible for a death or an event that has caused them grief. Sometimes a child will provoke an authority figure in order to receive a punishment they may feel they deserve as a result of guilt.3 These behaviors certainly won't be displayed by every child, and if present, the order in which they occur and severity of each will vary. Brendan Shea, a senior at Souhegan High School, was diagnosed with leukemia in 1994 at age 12. He feels that grieving should be a process of working towards a goal that you set in your life to prevent a death or disease from becoming your life. If we focus on what we still have, and are still able to do, closure or acceptance will come easier.