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Grieving individuals need reassurance that what they are experiencing is normal.Counselors can help them understand and identify the way they are reacting to grief. Grief counseling is a process of helping others through the loss and bereavement. The grief process represents movement from life through death and back into life again. Attempting to distract the bereaved from grief through forced cheerfulness and humor is not helpful. Likewise, being overly jolly at the wrong moments will not work, the last thing you want is to be seen as insensitive; giving practical help is one way to be supportive of a grieving person. Physical reaction to loss brings about headaches, gastrointestinal distress, and loss of appetite, fatigue, and insomnia. The noticeable behavior changes for a person coping with grief are increased use of alcohol, caffeine and nicotine. Excessive use of alcohol, cigarettes and coffee will hinder a person ability to cope with their stresses and sadness. Extreme isolation, lingering depression and loss of weight are signs that a referral for counseling is advisable.