There is no easy way to deal with grief. It brings waves of emotions that can be hard to manage and uncovers aspects of yourself that you may have not been aware of. It’s important to face the grief you are feeling in order to move forward in a positive way.
1. Face Your Feelings
Sometimes, when we experience grief, our initial reaction is to bury our feelings. We might prefer to believe that the incident causing us grief didn’t actually affect us that much or that we are strong and don’t need to feel hurt. Unfortunately, this burying doesn’t help us to heal and move past these feelings. Instead, it’s helpful to acknowledge how you feel and find ways to express that. This will help you feel more free and unburdened.
2. (Re)build Routine
Routine is an excellent way to create a sense of normality in your daily life. Therefore, if grief interrupts that routine, try to find a way to recreate it. This will help you to feel more grounded and less anxious about the changes in your mood that grief may bring.
3. Take Care of Your Physical Needs
When we are feeling extreme emotions—grief included—we can sometimes be tempted to neglect our physical well-being. Instead, be careful to eat well, get exercise and sleep appropriately as ignoring your physical needs will only disrupt your emotions further.
4. Get Support
Finding a support network, whether it’s through friends, family or a health professional, is an extremely helpful way to move through the process of grief. Talking with others who have experienced a similar grief and who you can share your feelings with can help you to better understand what you’re experiencing. Of course, if you’re still struggling to overcome your grief after a long period of time, it might be beneficial to get support from a mental health professional.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Have Fun
Sometimes we get so bogged down with sadness that we forget how to have fun; we might even feel guilty when we do. Remember that life is all about balance and while it’s helpful to face your feelings of sadness, it’s also ok to laugh, play and enjoy beauty around you as you begin to recover from your grief.
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