There are few things in life as devastating as the loss of a loved one. Sadly, loss is one of the certainties of life that we can’t outrun. Should you find yourself struggling with the loss of a loved one how you grieve may be different from how others grieve. Still, there are some things you can do to ease your pain and help you cope.
Talk it out – Don’t bottle up your emotions. In some cases understanding the loss will be impossible, but talking about it can give us comfort and often some closure.
Take time to grieve – Just as important as talking about your feelings is taking the time to grieve. Whether you need to cry for an hour, paint a picture, hike a mountain, just spend time in silence- whatever you need to do to just accept what has happened. For some people the grieving process will be quick, for others it can take years, and others will grieve in doses whenever the memory of the loss strikes.
Remember to take care of you – When grief takes over it’s easy to slip into a bad habit of not eating well, losing sleep and dropping physical fitness activities. Make sure that you don’t completely abandon healthy habits though as staying in a good place physically can help you heal mentally and emotionally.
Give yourself a break from grieving – Crying and sadness is understandable after a loss, but it’s also important to not let your life revolve solely around grieving. It’s perfectly acceptable to read a book, go see a movie or do some other activity that will distract you completely from the loss for a while.
Seek support – As time passes you will slowly but surely come to accept the loss. It won’t be easy and you will never forget the loss. Milestones such as birthdays or anniversaries can also make the loss feel like a freshly open wound. Nonetheless, time heals all wounds as they say. In the mean time if the pain gets too overwhelming you may need additional support to cope with the loss. If you are religious you may find comfort in your faith or seeking the support of friends and family can often help. For some people faith, family and/or friends aren’t enough and those people often find their support with a counselor or support group.
If you are having trouble coping with the loss of a loved one and wish to talk with a grief counselor about it we invite you to call Hammond Psychology & Associates, P.A. at (813) 567-3253.