People who freeze may not be able to move or speak due to their reaction to the news.
Little by little you can
overcome your fears.
Regardless of the initial impact, if you are like most people, you soon found yourself in a state of numbness. Looking back now, you may wonder how you remained calm. You may have completed some tasks that now seem impossi- ble. You probably have a hard time remembering exactly what you did during those first few days. During this time, people may have assumed that you were strong when you were actually in shock. You may have appeared strong but felt more like a robot, going through the motions. Denial following a violent and unanticipated death is considered normal and functional. It allows a person to travel through grief at their own pace and serves them well until they are stronger and better able to cope. It is impossible to push through any part of grieving in order to get over it. If you cannot think clearly or if you seem forgetful and detached, be patient with yourself. Most importantly, if you need help, ask for it.
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