Experiencing a big loss in our lives is something that’ll happen to everyone at some point. However, knowing this doesn’t make it any less painful when you’re going through it yourself. Losing someone close to you really is the hardest situation you’ll ever face. But knowing how to handle it can seem truly overwhelming and scary. Such a strong mix of emotions, some which are really unexpected, can suddenly feel like a lot to handle.
Loss is something that’s not spoken about too much. So, it’s no big surprise that so many people are left with feeling a whole raft of confusing and conflicting emotions. Here, you’ll find some tips on how to deal with the grief of losing a loved one. Hopefully, these ideas will help to make this extremely difficult time that little bit easier:
Keep talking
Talking can feel like the very last thing you’re wanting to do when your loved one is gone. But hiding yourself away and not talking to anyone isn’t going to help either. If you have good friends and relatives around you, why not try speaking with them about your feelings? Chances are, they want to speak to you but just don’t have the right words to say. Maybe they don’t know how to even start the conversation. Either way, most friends and family members will be all too happy to hear you share your feelings. Most people are keen to support someone they care about through a tough time.
As well as discussing your thoughts and feelings with those close to you, it’s also helpful to get professional counseling. The grieving process is an unknown. Very few people know how to handle the huge storm of emotions that can hit during grief. These emotions and thoughts can consume you and make you a shell of your former self. Speaking with a trained grief therapist can really help to unpick some of this tangle of emotions. As they’re trained to help people in your exact situation, they’ll know precisely how to guide you through this painful time in your life.
Ask for help
Along with talking and sharing your emotions, there’s more that your friends and family can do to make your life easier. Aside from the emotional support, your family members can help with the practical arrangements. Tasks such as arranging the funeral service and letting people know of your loved one’s passing can be painful and draining. Your emotions are probably depleted right now. Your head may be awash with sadness and a long list of all the things you need to do. So, don’t leave it all to yourself. If you have people willing to help you, then don’t be afraid to accept this.
Following your loved one’s death, you may have friends and family members that kindly offer to continue helping out. If you’ve lost a partner, this can be especially helpful. If you have kids, you’re probably struggling to find day care and to keep on top of taking care of the house. Any help you get with these things can be gratefully received and make your life that bit easier.
Having others to share the load and take care of some of the practicalities can make a world of difference to you. This can make the hugely difficult time you’re facing just a tiny bit simpler.
Honor your loved one
We all want our loved ones to live forever. When we have to come to terms with losing them, it’s so hard to even begin thinking about the future. Continuing with your life when your loved one is gone can feel unbearably hard. Finding ways that you can take comfort for yourself is helpful. Feeling like your loved one has a forever lasting presence in your life is an excellent way to feel comforted by their memory.
There are lots of ways to honor a loved one. You could plant a tree for them or set up a charitable foundation to help others. But, one thing you can definitely do with ease is to visit a site such as Memorials.com to create a lasting memorial to them. Flag cases and shadow boxes are the perfect way to create a lasting memorial of a loved one that served in the military. You can then proudly display their flag and medals to look at whenever you wish.
Honoring your loved one in a way that you choose is an excellent way to bring about some positive from your loss. Plus, a memorial will bring about something positive for you and your family members to feel comforted by every day.
Look after yourself
For the people that are left behind, a whole host of really complicated emotions can be flying around. As a result of the overwhelming and deep sense of loss, it can be tough to know how to get through each day. Part of feeling this way can lead you to neglect yourself. Your sleep habits may be non-existent, and your diet may be far from healthy, and that’s if you eat anything at all. The problem is, the less care you take of yourself, the worse you’re going to feel. Getting into bad habits can lead you right into a vicious cycle of feeling bad but not being able to break free.
It can be really, really hard to do, but trying to stay in some kind of a routine can be really helpful. Keeping those regular eating times and bedtimes can be tough, but maintaining some regularity in your life can be a comfort. A consistent routine can provide stability at a time where your life feels anything but stable. In the long term, this consistency can help you to re-adjust to life and start to feel a little better.
While there’s a ton of advice out there on grieving, one of the most crucial things to do is to go easy on yourself. Be gentle and patient as you navigate this difficult time.
