Losing someone you were close to is never easy. You’re bound to have a period of grief afterward, and this will last longer for some people than others. Everyone deals with grief differently, but it helps to know some strategies that will help you through this difficult time.
Let yourself grieve
The most important part of grieving is to actually grieve. Pushing down your emotions and pretending nothing is wrong can be extremely unhealthy and doesn’t allow you to process your feelings. It’s okay to cry, to get angry, to need some time off work, or however else you need to cope in the early stages of grief.
Don’t isolate yourself
It’s normal to want to be alone with your feelings for a period, but don’t isolate yourself completely. Spend time with your loved ones, whether that’s friends, family, your partner, or your kids. Talk to them about your loss if you want to, or just simply be with them or use them as a shoulder to cry on.
Talk to a therapist
If you do want to talk through your thoughts and feelings, then you might be more comfortable doing so with a professional. Everyone is different, so this tip might not be for everyone. But if you do talk to a therapist, it can help you get your feelings out and process them, perhaps for the first time since your loss. They can also help you with developing healthy coping strategies moving forward.
Look after yourself
You might feel like staying in bed all day and doing nothing, but it’s important to still look after your health. Make sure you’re still eating and drinking enough – some people might experience a loss of appetite while others might overeat to make themselves feel better. Get some fresh air and walk around each day to stay active, and see a doctor if you need to.
Keep up a routine
You’ll probably take some time off work initially after your loss, but it’s important to still keep up a routine to maintain some order to your life, even if it feels like it’s spiraling. Get up, get dressed, brush your teeth, take a shower, and try to eat your three meals each day. This gives you small goals to focus on and a schedule to stick to, which can make a big difference at a difficult time like this.
Let Hayworth Miller take a load off your mind during your period of mourning. We make it straightforward to plan a funeral for your loved one. Get in touch to find out how we can help across Lewisville, Winston Salem, Kernersville, and Advance.