How to Cope: 7 Tips for Working Through Grief
Working through grief isn't something that you're going to be able to do overnight in the aftermath of a loved one's loss. According to a recent survey, about 70% of people said that grieving a loved one's loss is something that takes at least one full year, if not longer.
If you're going through the grieving process right now, it might seem as though you're never going to feel like your normal self again. But you should know that it is possible to experience healing after a loss, even if you've lost a parent, a spouse, a sibling, or someone else who was very close to you.
Are you having a hard time coping with grief and looking for some help managing it? Here are seven tips that should help you when it comes to working through grief.
1. Do Your Best to Accept Grief Right From the Very Beginning
When you first find out about the death of a loved one, you might not be able to believe it. There are a lot of people who automatically slip into a state of denial and struggle to come to terms with a loved one's loss.
This is perfectly normal. But at the same time, you shouldn't allow yourself to linger in this state for too long. You should try to come around to accepting what you know to be true so that you can jumpstart the grieving process.
The sooner that you're able to start grieving your loved one's loss, the sooner you'll be able to work your way through it. It's why you should attempt to accept it as soon as you can.
2. Lean On Others for Support While Working Through Grief
Oftentimes, people don't want to burden others with their grief. As a result, they try working through grief on their own as opposed to leaning on those around them for support.
You shouldn't ever feel like you have to go through the grieving process alone. You should always feel free to lean on your family members and friends for support whenever you need it.
You might also want to see if the funeral home that you use to make funeral arrangements for your loved one can assist you by setting you up with grief counseling services. Read more now about some of the things a funeral home might tell you when you're grieving.
3. Read About Grief and All That It Entails
If you've gone through the grieving process before, then you likely know what to expect from it. But if the grieving process is unfamiliar to you, you might not know what's to come in the weeks, months, and years following a loved one's loss.
You should change that by reading up on grief so that you know all that it entails. Specifically, you should educate yourself on the so-called "five stages of grief" so that you're able to go through each one without a problem.
There are tons of internet articles out there about grief. There are also lots of good books on the subject. Read as much as you can about grief to get a better sense of what it is and how it works.
4. Find Different Ways to Express Your Grief
To get over your grief, you're going to have to find different ways to express it. In many cases, that'll simply mean talking about your grief and the emotions that come along with it.
But in some instances, you'll also need to find other ways to express grief. You can do it by:
- Letting out a loud scream
- Writing an angry song and performing it
- Creating a wild piece of art
Don't be afraid to try different things to express your grief. You never know what might work for you.
5. Join a Grief Support Group
Earlier, we talked about how you should lean on those around you for support when you're grieving. Your family members and friends will be more than happy to help you out when you're working through grief.
However, if you ever want to lean on someone outside of your immediate circle, you can also try joining a grief support group. This will surround you with other people who are going through the same things you are.
You might be able to learn about coping with grief from these people. They can share the strategies that they've used while working through grief so that you can give them a try.
6. Take a Break From Your Grief Every Now and Then
When you're first mourning the loss of a loved one, you might not be able to just turn off your grief and ignore it for an hour or two. But it might be possible for you to take breaks from your grief once you get into the advanced stages of grieving.
Whenever possible, you should take breaks from grieving to live your life. Go see a movie, take a walk in the park, or drive around for a little while. It'll work wonders for your mental health and help you push forward in the grieving process.
7. Give Yourself All the Time You Need to Go Through Grief
There is no expiration date for grief. For some people, the grieving process only lasts for a few months. For others, it can last for many years.
Don't feel as though you need to rush through things while working through grief. That might actually prolong the process and make it stretch out over a much longer period of time.
Let the Grieving Process Play Itself Out From Start to Finish
There is nothing fun about going through the grieving process. It's one of the hardest things that most people ever have to do.
But you should know that you will be OK after working through grief. Grief is an inevitable part of life, and it's something that everyone can manage as long as they take the right steps.
Use the tips found here to help with healing after a loss. It'll allow you to achieve healthy grieving one day at a time.
Check out the other articles on our blog for more tips on working through grief.