Losing a Loved One

Bereavement is the grief and mourning experience following the death of someone important to you. While it’s an inevitable part of life—something that virtually all of us go through at some point—losing someone you love can be one of the most painful experiences you’ll ever have to endure. (helpguide.org)

Losing someone is one of the most painful experiences you can go through. We experience guilt, anger, helplessness, shock, regret, and many more emotions at once that often take our breath away and make it hard to focus on anything else.

There are many myths surrounding the grieving process. Some say ignoring the pain will make it go away, some say you have to mourn a certain way, and some try to put a timeframe on grief. But the truth is, grief is a very personal experience, and there is no right or wrong way to grieve.

It can be hard to get back into a routine when someone very important is missing from your life. And while grieving is a very personal experience, some things may help to cope with the pain.

Dealing with the Grieving Process

• Acknowledge your pain. Ignoring it won’t make it go away.
• Accept that grief can trigger many different and unexpected emotions. Dealing with them can be hard and overwhelming, but that’s part of the process.
• Understand that your grieving process will be unique to you. What works for yourself might not work for others and vice versa.
• Talk to people who care about you. Having a shoulder to cry on or just being able to sit together in silence can help deal with the emotions.
• Support yourself emotionally by taking care of yourself physically. Do not forget about yourself. Do what makes you happy and feel good.

Six Things to Remember when Dealing with the Loss of a Loved One

1. It won’t feel like this forever.
2. You can handle it, even if you feel like you cannot.
3. Be gentle with yourself.
4. It’s okay to think in circles and return to your grief.
5. Your feelings are normal.
6. You are not alone.

If you ever feel like your emotions are too much to handle, please do not hesitate to reach out and get help!