Dealing With Bereavement

When you have lost someone close to you, the most important thing to do is to allow your emotions to come to the surface and express them. To keep them in or deny them their natural release can only cause issues later on. Allow yourself a mourning period, a time to let go, cry, to allow the emotions out. Here are a few ways in which you can help yourself through this painful period:

Support

Surround yourself with those who love and care for you. Allow them to take on your burdens and chores. Draw from their strength and support to quicken the healing process. Sharing your loss with family, friends or your religious community can make it easier to handle.

Talk about it

Even if you are not a naturally open person, you should try to tell others how you feel. To talk about your feelings at a time like this is an important part of the release process, and to express your emotions is essential to work your way through your grief.

It takes time

Grief is not a predictable emotion, you cannot say that it will last a week or a month or a year with any certainty, so it is just something that you are going to have to accept that you have no control over it. Give your grief as much rein as it needs to work through your system.

Support groups

There are many out there, some generalised and others specialising in loss relating to a special person (a child), a particular situation (war) or illness.

Express yourself

Some people find it easier to cope with grief by expressing their feelings through art, the written word or prayer. There is no one way that is better than another; it is truly a case of what works best for you to be able to release the grief inside.

Take care of yourself

Eat properly, exercise, and try to sleep in a normal pattern. Don’t block your grief, using drugs or alcohol to numb the pain as this will be bad for you in the long run.