When loss strikes suddenly: coping with traumatic grief

The loss of a loved one is always painful. But when it happens suddenly, unexpectedly and in a way that throws one’s world into turmoil, the pain can take on a different quality – one that is more intense and harder to comprehend.

Sudden bereavement leaves no time to prepare, to say goodbye, or to make immediate sense of what has happened. It can leave those left behind with a sense of unreality, of shock, of profound emptiness, as if life had been abruptly cut short.

In these experiences, it is not only the mind that suffers. The body, too, can remain in a state of alert for a long time, as if the event were still unfolding, making it difficult to regain stability, security and continuity in daily life. Silent questions often arise:

• Why do I feel this way?
• Why can’t I move on?
• Is what I’m going through normal?

This webinar has been created with the aim of offering a space for understanding and guidance, to put a name to what happens after a sudden loss and to recognise emotional and physical reactions as human responses to a traumatic event.

The webinar will address, in particular:

• what happens when grief has not had the time or space to be processed, amidst shock, guilt, helplessness and unanswered questions;
• the main emotional and physical reactions that can arise following a sudden loss;
• why certain feelings can make one feel ‘stuck’ or out of time, and what sustains them over time;
• the internal and external resources that can help one navigate traumatic grief without rushing the process or denying the pain;
• a final space for reflection and questions, to share thoughts and experiences in an atmosphere of listening and respect.

A session designed for those who are experiencing, directly or indirectly, a sudden loss and feel the need to better understand what is happening within themselves, without judgement and without pressure.

THE WEBINAR IS LED BY

Dr Emanuela Alfieri [contact]

Psychologist, Psychotherapist, expert in EMDR and Sensory-Motor Psychotherapy, specialising in anticipatory grief and traumatic grief

Dr Aldo Tandurella [contact]

Clinical psychologist and expert in IFS (Internal Family Systems), specialising in particular in post-traumatic stress disorders and traumatic grief