Not weakness, but a resource: advocates learn about ways to recover emotionally

Losing your home, your way of life, your values, your professional identity, or even your sense of self during war leaves a deep mark on your mind. And grief becomes a natural and important part of the recovery process.

The Ukrainian National Bar Association, with the support of the International Bar Association (IBA), held a webinar on «Experiencing Loss and Grief: The Road to Recovery». The event took place on May 9 as part of the project «Supporting the Mental Health of Ukrainian Lawyers During the War».

Psychologist Yevheniia Zhuravel presented a comprehensive view of the topic from the perspective of modern psychology. She noted that grief is not a sign of weakness, but a natural reaction to a violation of inner integrity when life changes irrevocably. It is a process in which not only emotions change, but also physical reactions, relationships with other people, perceptions of oneself, the world, and the future.

The speaker talked about the dual process model of grief developed by Margaret Strobe and Hans Schut. It is based on the idea that grief is not a linear sequence of stages, but a pendulum-like movement between two orientations: on the one hand, focusing on the loss itself, with feelings of pain, sadness, and memories, and on the other hand, gradually returning to normal life, new responsibilities, relationships, and meanings.

This approach helps to realize that switching between grief and adaptation is not avoidance, but a natural and healthy process. It is important to allow yourself to experience both states without trying to stay in one of them all the time. The model removes expectations about the «right» way to grieve and recognizes the uniqueness of each person's experience. This awareness is important for staying connected to life even during times of deep sadness.

The psychologist also shared practical advice on how to be there for someone who is grieving, how to help without causing harm, and how to learn not to be afraid of pain — your own or someone else's.

The event served as an important reminder to the legal community that psychological support is not a luxury but a necessity in times of turmoil. After all, acknowledging pain is the first step toward new inner wholeness and a return to an active life.

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