When the World Moves On and You’re Still Grieving
Why it’s okay to not be okay — from Ohio therapists who understand.
If you’re grieving right now, I want to start with this: there is no right way to do this.
No checklist. No perfect timeline. No step-by-step recovery plan.
Grief doesn’t ask permission before it enters your life — it just shows up, wrecks your sense of normal, and demands that you somehow keep going. And the truth is, grief isn’t just sadness. It’s rage, confusion, guilt, numbness, denial, exhaustion, longing, and a hundred emotions that refuse to line up neatly.
Some days it’s crying in the car. Other days it’s silence, detachment, and wondering if you’re grieving “the right way.” (You are.)
As grief therapists in Ohio, we want you to know this: You are not broken. You are mourning something precious.And you don’t have to rush your way back to “normal.”
You Don’t “Get Over” It
You’ve probably heard people say things like:
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“Time heals everything.”
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“They’d want you to be happy.”
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“You have to move on eventually.”
Let’s be honest — those words can sting.
You don’t move on from someone or something you deeply loved. You learn to carry it differently. Some days, that weight feels manageable. Other days, it hits you like it’s brand new. Neither means you’re doing it wrong — it just means you’re human.
Grief isn’t a test of strength. It’s a reflection of love. And that love doesn’t disappear just because the world expects you to “move on.”
Grief Changes You
You might not laugh the same way you used to. Maybe you’ve stopped answering texts, or certain songs make your chest ache. You might even feel like a ghost in your own life — like the version of you that existed before the loss is gone.
That’s normal.
Loss doesn’t only take the person you loved; it often takes the version of you that existed with them. What’s left is someone who’s still learning how to exist in a world that’s missing a piece of your heart.
Grief isn’t just emotional; it’s transformational. And yes, that transformation is painful. It’s also sacred work — soul work — and it takes time.
It Can Mess with Everything
Grief isn’t confined to your heart. It hijacks your mind and body too.
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Sleep disappears.
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Food loses its taste.
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Memory blurs.
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Motivation feels impossible.
You might feel like you’re in a fog or floating through your days on autopilot. You might forget things you never used to, or find yourself avoiding social situations because it all feels like too much.
None of that means you’re failing at grieving — it means grief is working its way through every part of you.
As grief therapists in Ohio, we see these changes every day in clients who feel “crazy” for not functioning like before. But this isn’t madness; it’s mourning. And your body is doing its best to carry something it was never built to carry alone.
There’s No Timeline — But There Is Hope
Grief doesn’t have a finish line. There’s no point where it ends and you “graduate” from pain. But it does evolve.
You won’t always feel this raw. The sharpness fades into something softer. One day you’ll laugh without guilt. You’ll tell a story about your loved one and smile instead of cry. You’ll start to see pieces of your life rebuilding in ways that honor both love and loss.
Grief may always live with you, but you’ll grow around it.
And that growth doesn’t mean forgetting — it means remembering differently.
If No One’s Told You Lately:
You are not weak for grieving this hard.
You are not broken for feeling like this still hurts.
You are not behind for still missing them.
You are not alone in this.
Your pain matters. Your story matters. And your healing doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
If you’re in Ohio and grief has left you feeling disconnected, numb, or unsure how to move forward, therapy can help you process it without rushing it.
Our grief therapists in Ohio specialize in trauma-informed approaches to loss — helping you honor your grief, manage the physical toll, and find meaning in the spaces your loved one once filled.
How to Get Started with a Grief Therapist in Ohio
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Visit our Getting Started Page at TraumaTherapyCompany.com.
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Pick your provider. Choose a therapist who specializes in grief, trauma, or loss.
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Click “New Client.”
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Complete the brief intake form in full.
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We’ll contact you to verify coverage or discuss discounted self-pay options.
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Schedule your free 15-minute consultation.
You don’t need to have it all figured out before you reach out. That’s what therapy is for — a safe space to be as messy, angry, tired, or heartbroken as you need to be.
Grief isn’t about getting over it. It’s about learning to live with love and loss side by side — and knowing you don’t have to carry it alone.
Majdoleen “Mish” Altahtamoni, MSWLSW (She/Her)
DBT Certified – Trauma Therapist
The Trauma Therapy Company
(P) 234-600-8200
(P) 614-245-3852
(E) Maltahtamoni@traumatherapycompany.com
