7 Ways to Deal with Grief
After Losing Someone You Love
When you lose someone you love, grief feels like a bottomless pit. Everyone experiences and expresses their loss differently. We all have our own ways to deal with the pain after losing someone we love and it’s okay if it doesn’t fit someone else. Here are some tips on how to deal with grief after losing someone you love.
Change your routine
After a loved one passes away, your routine will likely change and that’s completely normal. You may want to stay in bed all day or you may want to stay out all night; it’s up to you. If you find yourself in a rut, try to shake up your routine a little.
Write in a journal
Writing down how you’re feeling is proven to help you process your emotions better than keeping it inside. Journaling is a great way to express your emotions. You can also journal about your loved one and about the memories you have of them.
Exercise
Exercising is a healthy way to release pent-up emotions. You don’t have to go to a gym and lift weights to be considered exercising. Walking, hiking, cycling, and yoga are all great ways to exercise and help you release stress. Exercising is also proven to help with sleep, which is something that is always affected when someone is grieving.
Talk to a therapist or counselor
Depending on your situation, you may want to talk to a therapist or counselor about your grief. Sharing your feelings with someone who knows what you’re going through can really help you process your emotions. If you don’t have a friend or family member to talk to, find a therapist near you that you can speak to about your feelings. If you have health insurance, your insurance may cover the cost of therapy.
Spend time with family and friends
Losing a loved one can make you feel alone and like you don’t have anyone you can talk to. This is why it’s essential to spend time with friends and family. It’s important to not isolate yourself and spend time with the people who care about you. If you don’t know where to start or don’t know who to reach out to, try joining a grief support group.
Donate your loved one’s possessions
After a loved one passes away, you may want to toss their things in the garbage. While it may seem like the right thing to do, it’s actually better to keep their clothes and items around. It is a great way to feel close to them. If you’re not sure what to do with their things, you can donate them to a charity. Keep in mind that you should wait at least six months before donating your loved one’s things. This gives you time to heal and to decide what you want to do with their possessions.
Find a way to honor their memory
This can be as simple as planting a tree in their honor or donating money to a cause they believed in. Moreover, you can learn about their passions and hobbies and try to pursue them yourself.
Keep in mind that grief is something that you will always experience and it isn’t something that will go away. You should expect to experience grief on some level for the rest of your life. When you lose someone you love, you may feel as if you have been hit by a ton of bricks. What matters is that you learn how to deal with it in a healthy way.
The author of this article is a therapist from the Sensera app. Sensera is a daily 10-minute self-therapy app. It’ll help you to cope with various mental problems (anxiety, self-esteem, relationship issues). Feel better with CBT audio sessions and exercises. Download now to become happier!
