Coping with Loss and Grief
Losing a loved one is one of the hardest life events we are forced to cope with. Whether it's the loss of a grandparent, mother, father, brother, sister, daughter, son, friend, coworker, or classmate— their passing can be unimaginable and traumatic. It is common for those who have witnessed any kind of traumatic loss to experience intrusive thoughts, nightmares, a sense of loneliness, deep anger or sadness, or an inability to enjoy life. The grieving process is unique to each person. As you grieve the loss of your loved one, here are some ways you can experience solace and healing.
Feel your Feelings
When we experience traumatic loss, we may feel compelled to be strong for our families, feel the need to hide our feelings from others, or avoid our painful emotions altogether. However, avoiding our feelings is only a short term solution that prevents people from being present in the current moment and hinders them from adequately grieving. Although the grieving process is painful and uncomfortable, grief is a normal response to loss. Allowing yourself time and permission to feel all your emotions— anger, confusion, numbness, sadness, frustration— can help you better grieve the loss of your loved one and slowly come to a place of acceptance.
Seek Support from Your Community
Sometimes after the loss of a loved one we may withdraw from others however in times of distress, it is important to lean on your community. For instance, your family, friends, church, school, neighborhood, or workplace can offer you much needed emotional, physical, spiritual, or psychological support during the grieving process.
Share Memories
Celebrating your loved ones' life by sharing cherished memories can help to reflect on positive experiences and preserve joyful memories. Focusing on the good memories you shared with your loved one allows can evoke emotions of happiness, gratitude, and peace. You may consider honoring their memory by creating a memorial fund, establishing a charity in their name, lighting a candle, writing them a letter, joining a walk in their honor, engaging in their favorite activities, sharing their stories with others, carrying on certain traditions that they enjoyed, or getting together yearly on their birthdays to celebrate their life.
Practice Coping Skills
As you continue to grieve and feel your emotions, remember to take good care of yourself too. Try to maintain your normal daily routine as much as possible such as practicing daily hygiene or grooming, eating meals, speaking with peers, or engaging in self care activities. It can be difficult to quiet the mind of all the uncomfortable thoughts related to the passing of your loved one, so again feel your emotions and your thoughts! With time, you will develop coping skills such as mindfulness or deep breathing to control your thoughts and feelings to help you be able to better function.
Seek Mental Health Support
It's okay to not be okay! Therapy can be a great source of emotional support as you process the passing of a loved one. If you are interested in seeking mental health services or want to learn more about therapy check out this Mental Health Resource Guide! It aims to raise awareness of the importance of positive mental health, to increase access to community level mental health services, and to reduce the stigma around mental health through psychoeducation.
Please contact me if you need help connecting to therapy services or would like any emotional support.
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