Coping with Grief when You've Lost a Loved One

If you have lost someone, then you will know how devastating this can be. At the same time, you have to remember that part of what makes losing someone so hard to deal with is the fact that you are experiencing an intense level of fear, stress and sadness. It’s very common, and although you may never recover from losing someone, there are steps you can take to try and improve your mental health.

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You Can Handle It

One thing you need to remember is that you can handle whatever it is you are going through, even if you feel as though you can’t. The shock of loss can sometimes be too much to bear, but if you can develop a plan that helps you cope, then this will help you a lot. Grief and pain often come in waves as well, and this can be overwhelming in itself. If you want to help yourself, then there are services out there that you can rely on to help guide you through any emotions that you may be struggling to process. If you’re struggling with something specific, like the funeral, remember there are options out there, like pure cremation, which are very no-fuss.

Be Gentle

Another thing you need to do is try and be gentle with yourself. Grief can be, and always will be exhausting. It will also touch every area of your life. If you want to help yourself here, then it’s wise for you to carve out time for naps and to also make sure that you are eating lots of nourishing food. Above all, you should also talk with someone who understands what you are going through and who is not going to judge you based on the things you are doing to make it through. Give yourself a break, be gentle with yourself, and know that there are better times ahead.

Think in Cycles

Another thing you can do to help yourself would be to try and think in cycles. You need to avoid thinking in lines if you can, as this won’t get you anywhere. If you happen to get to the point when you are feeling good, but then begin to feel bad again, then this doesn’t mean that you are doing anything wrong, and it also doesn’t mean that you are getting worse. Sometimes it simply means you are going through the motions, and those loops will continue to come back again and again.

Grief can Help you Find Meaning

At the end of the day, however horrible grief can be, it can also help you to find some meaning in your life. Grief is a natural response to losing someone you have loved, and it gives you the chance to reflect on the things that have gone well in your life. If you can stay connected to things like this and if you can try and contribute to a sense of purpose overall, then this will help you in more ways than one. It will also help you to feel more at ease when you are going through a tough time and you don’t know how to process it.

K Elizabeth xoxox

*Collaborative Post