How to deal with grief and loss
From ArticleWorld
To Deal with Grief and Loss of our loved ones takes away our ability to plan for the future and removes hope from our lives. We not only grieve for the loss of them in our lives but we also grieve for our own mortality. Grief becomes a part of our lives and we need to learn to deal with it. The ways to cope effectively with grief are many and requires that we take each step at a time and each day as it comes.
[edit]
Approaches
- Don’t deny that the unthinkable has happened. Face the reality and confront it, this is the first step towards healing yourself.
- Articulate your grief, talk about it, to friends, relatives even strangers, if need be. This is the next step.
- Crying is not childish even in men, so give in to tears, giving in to grief is an essential part of healing.
- Give in to hobbies that have always brought pleasure and peace like gardening, reading, cooking, fishing, listening to music or going for long walks. Starting to pour your thoughts out onto paper is a very constructive way of coping with grief. It may also serve to start a new hobby, something that is totally different from what you have ever tried before like scuba diving or bungee jumping.
- Occupy yourself in social activities. Other people’s problems and grief will help you to take the edge out of yours. Helping young children is especially soothing as their innocence and naturalness act as balm.
[edit]
Do’s
- Laugh, with friends, watching a movie or a play and over jokes. Do not be guilty about feeling happy.
- Travel and see new places, meet new people and have new experiences.
[edit]
Don’ts
- Don’t feel lonely. If you cannot find companionship, get a new pet or a few plants to look after.
- Don’t feel sorry for yourself and give in to self pity; remember that people who love you do not want you to be sad because if you are happy then they are also happy.