Google searches that mean you need grief coaching

If you're anything like me, you stay using Google for life help! I find myself Googling everything from laundry tips to restaurant reviews and even tax questions. Google has all the answers, right?

Googling my questions was definitely true for me when it came to my grief. Even though I had great people in my life that I could turn to for help, my family was grieving too, and many of my friends just hadn't been through the level of loss I had experienced. So I spend hours on Google begging for answers. 

These Google searches were definitely a sign that I needed some professional grief support. I eventually found my way to professional support, but I wish I had done that sooner. Grief is a dense fog to maneuver; we can't do it alone! So if you find yourself Googling similar searches, just reach out! The investment is totally worth it!

Signs it's time for a Grief Coach.

You're Googling "Is my grief normal?!"

Here's the thing, grief is tricky and really complex! There's no such thing as normal when it comes to grief because we all experience loss differently. The person who died, the way they died, your relationship with them, and what's going on in your life are some factors that will determine how you grieve. 

I remember Googling "signs my grief is abnormal" because it felt like I was drowning. Meanwhile, it seemed like my family was handling things so much better than me. In reality, we were all a mess, but it would've been helpful to have some professional perspective. Now I know that even family members grieve differently, and there's no one-size-fits-all regarding grief. 

You're Googling "How long does this last?"

Grief does some weird things to time. There were days when I felt like I had just started and days when I felt like I had been grieving forever. I wanted to know how long this pain was going to last! 

It's really typical to wonder about a timeline in grief. Unfortunately, there's no timeline because you will carry the pain of this loss forever. I know this isn't what you want to hear right now! Even though you will have this loss forever, you can learn to grow around your grief. 

Working on your grief doesn't mean you "get over it" or the pain shrinks over time. In my practice, I coach grievers to process their loss and build around the hole that grief left. Grief coaching will teach you how to build endurance; if you're feeling fatigued by grief, it's time to reach out!

You're Googling "What am I supposed to do?"

We want to know what to do when things are hard. But that mindset suggests that your grief is a problem. I don't believe our grief is a problem; I believe that grief is part of life. 

I know this is easy for me to say since I'm not getting tossed around by the waves of grief. But trust me, I've been there, and in the early days, I did see grief as a problem. All I wanted to do was control my grief so it would stop knocking me over. 

There's really no controlling grief, but there are healthy ways to cope. By working with a coach, you'll better understand your grief while learning tools to care for yourself and the power of listening to your emotions. So if you find yourself Googling tips for coping with grief or you're worried about things like going back to work while grieving, it's time to get support. 

You're Googling "Will I ever be happy again?"

During my first few years of grief, I probably wouldn't have said that happiness was possible. It was hard for me to plan for the future, make big life changes, or feel excited about living. Before doing my own grief work, any attempt at happiness felt fake and forced. 

Here's the thing, I didn't want to move on! I didn't want to forget my mom, dad, and sister. Being happy felt weird and unattainable! Grief rearranged my priorities, so I needed help understanding what mattered to me. 

The vision for my life is really different these days. Now that I understand my new priorities, I'm better equipped to create a life I'm excited about. I will always miss my mom, dad, and sister, but I know they would be cheering me on! 

If you need a sign, here it is!

The bottom line is grief isn't something we navigate alone! Stop Googling all your worries and get a grief coach to guide you. Working with a grief coach means processing your loss while building a life with meaning and purpose - one you're actually excited about living!