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Losing a loved one is an experience most of us will have to go through at some point in our lives. Grief can be debilitating, and there is no manual that can prepare you for how you feel when you lose somebody special. In this guide, there are useful tips to help you cope with grief if you are struggling to deal with grief.
Take every day as it comes
We all respond differently to losing family and close friends and even pets. It soon becomes clear that every day is completely different when you are grieving. While some days you may feel relatively strong, there will be days where you might not want to talk to anybody or even get out of bed. Even years after a bereavement, grief can hit you like a ton of bricks; sometimes completely out of the blue.
In the early stages, take every day as it comes. Don’t put pressure on yourself to get back to ‘normal’ or feel guilty if you’re having a good day or you want to shut yourself away. You will go through a rollercoaster of emotions, and this is completely natural. There is no right or wrong way to grieve.
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Seek practical advice
We all know that losing people we love takes its toll on us emotionally but many of us are less prepared for the stress of going through the processes of registering deaths, closing bank accounts, notifying banks and other organizations, talking to employers and paying legal fees. When you’re struggling to cope emotionally, the last thing you want is to be worrying about practical issues.
Seeking expert advice can provide clarity and make it easier to navigate processes such as probate. It’s particularly important to reach out if you have concerns about how your loved one passed, and you want more information about wrongful death, accidents caused by negligence or medical malpractice. Hiring an experienced legal team can eliminate stress and help to increase your chances of getting justice for the person you’ve lost. It is important to find someone that can be trusted especially at a time like this.
Emotional support
Loss is one of the most difficult challenges we face as human beings. It can take months or even years to reach a stage where you can face the day without feeling like there is a cloud hanging over you and most people say they never fully get over a bereavement. Take advantage of opportunities to seek emotional support and advice to help you cope.
When you feel ready to talk, it can be beneficial to open up about how you feel. You might feel comfortable chatting with friends or family members or a partner, or you may want to see a therapist or a counselor. It’s important to remember that you should move at your own pace. You shouldn’t feel pressured to talk if you’re not comfortable with going to therapy or sharing your thoughts and feelings with friends or relatives yet.
Be Kind To Yourself
Many people make the mistake of thinking grief has a specific timeline and thinking there a specific step-by-step way of “doing’ this. There isn’t. Everyone on the planet has very unique DNA, right? Then why wouldn’t our emotions and coping be anything but unique especially while grieving?
Remember that grief doesn’t only affect your emotions but also can affect you mentally and physically. For the last two months after my dad passed away, I have been super tired all the time even though I can’t seem to sleep. I knew this could be a possibility but whew wasn’t prepared for my insomnia to go into hyperdrive. I could get worked up about this and be mad at myself for not getting enough sleep but instead I’m choosing kindness.
If I beat myself up over this, it’ll just make it worse. So I’m taking it as it is and know that at some point this will subside and that’s ok. Be kind to yourself if you are having trouble physically, mentally or emotionally. Take a nap, talk with a trusted friend or counselor, go on a hike and enjoy nature, read a book. Now is a good time to slow down and pace yourself. Grief is not a race. It’s a process by which we acclimate to a new way of life without our loved ones while taking time to mourn our loss.
Nothing prepares you for losing the people who matter to you most. There is no right or wrong way to grieve but there are steps you can take to help make life that little bit easier and more manageable if you have lost somebody special. Take each day as it comes, don’t put pressure on yourself, lean on friends and family for support, talk when you are ready, and seek expert advice to help with legal and financial issues.
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If you are feeling down or depressed for more days than not, please seek medical attention. If you are feeling like you cannot go on, please call the suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or chat here>>> https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/ Or visit the suicide prevention lifeline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
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