5 Ways to help you cope when grieving
Allow yourself to feel the loss
When you are grieving the loss of a loved one, it is helpful to allow yourself to feel the emotions you are experiencing instead of trying to avoid them or distract yourself from them. As intense as these feelings may be, they are a natural response to a loss or bereavement. People who are experiencing some form of grief for the first time might feel especially overwhelmed and confused about their feelings. It is quite normal to experience anger, guilt and sometimes relief as well as deep sadness.
Maintain healthy eating habits
During times of bereavement it is quite normal for family and friends to rally together and provide meals and take care of the grocery shopping. It is important to maintain as healthy eating habits as possible during this time when you may not have an appetite or feel motivated to cook or prepare meals. Welcoming these kinds of gestures will help you to look after your physical as well as mental wellbeing while you come to terms with your loss.
Visit your GP
If you are struggling with your grief , you might benefit from a visit to your GP who can prescribe you with medication to help you sleep if you are having difficulty or something to calm your nerves if that is what is needed. It’s important to avoid excess alcohol or drugs that will mask your grief in the short term but may lead to you feeling worse over time or risk you becoming dependant on these substances which could adversely affect your long term health and wellbeing.
Exercise
Engaging in some form of regular physical activity helps to stimulate the release of brain chemicals such as Endorphins. Although this will not take away the pain of your loss it can help to boost your mood and provide you with some relief by reducing your stress levels. Walking is a great place to start, even if a short walk is all you can manage in the early stages of your grief.
Talk to someone
Talking about your loved one to family or friends can be beneficial. Sharing your stories and feelings can bring great comfort to some. Others seek the help of a Counsellor to support them and help them come to terms with their grief as well as helping them to understand their thoughts and feelings during this time. Counselling can be a wonderful way of helping someone with strategies and tools to assist them in their grief as well as how to find meaning moving forward to a place of acceptance.
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