Grief and sadness are hard emotions to navigate. We all experience them at some point in our lives, but that certainly doesn’t make it any easier. Coping with the loss of a dear friend is sure to bring up intense emotions, and there is no “right” or “wrong” way to experience that grief. There are ways that you can cope, however, by honoring your friend in a meaningful way and finding ways to move forward.
Grief is Normal (And It’s Ok)
The first thing to understand as you cope with the loss of your friend is that your grief is natural. In fact, it’s an important part of your emotional healing process. Therefore, it’s ok to feel sad, to let yourself cry and to have a lot of questions. You might express your grief differently than someone else, and you might have days when you feel more grief than others—both of these are completely normal as well. If your feeling of grief goes on for too long or becomes unbearable, however, be sure to reach out for support or speak to a mental health professional for advice.
Take Care of Your Physical Self
When we feel sad, it can sometimes be tempting to neglect our physical well-being. We don’t eat very well, we forget to exercise and we let our sleep patterns slide. Unfortunately, this only makes you feel worse. Therefore, don’t forget to continue taking care of yourself physically so that you feel better emotionally.
Image: Foundry
Find Emotional Support
Finding people who you trust and can share your feelings with openly is important while you’re grieving. It’s helpful to open up to those who are also mourning the loss of your friend, as well as those who are in a stronger emotional state who can support you and listen. Grief therapy is always an option and if you ever begin to feel that the burden of sadness is overwhelming, seek professional support.
Remember to go easy on yourself while you’re grieving. Give yourself space and time, but also don’t be afraid to laugh and have fun. Slowly, but surely, you’ll find that the sadness begins to wash away.
Feature Image: Unsplash
