While we are going through life, we will all lose something that we hold dear to our heart. It is something that one cannot escape. Losses will appear in many forms such as a breakup with a loved one, children leaving you, or when a close person dies. Other forms of transition will bring grief into your life. Losing someone who you have been holding dear in your heart leads to grieving. Sometimes the situation cannot reverse, and you might feel there is no hope that you will be brought back into your original state.
In such a situation, grieving is a natural process. You need to cope and find or formulate strategies that will help you bounce back. Healing is a process that starts with denial followed by anger, sadness, and the last stage is acceptance. Here are some judicious grief coping strategies that can help you go through this trying time.
1. Understand that Grief is Normal
One of the first strategies which happen to be the most important is that you need to understand that grief is normal. All the characteristics and emotional concerns that you will be showing after losing something or someone is a normal aspect. Surprisingly, all individuals are expected to experience grief in their life regardless of how strong they are in controlling their emotions. Some of the emotional imbalances that you will be experiencing such as numbness, physical exhaustion, and sadness are normal. Experts from Harris House will reassure you that you are expressing your emotional concern by developing a customized program for you.
2. Get Help from Others
Two common characteristics are associated with grieving individuals: avoiding others and the aspect of feeling lonely. In as much as you do not want people to see you grieving or understand your current situation, the only solution to this problem is to let people know about your problem so that they can offer you the necessary support. Some vital individuals such as family members, spouses, religious leaders, work colleagues, and personal friends will come in handy. Talk to them and express your concerns. They will be willing and ready to help you move to the next stage.
3. Allow Yourself to Grief
Grieving is an outward expression of what you are feeling inside you. It is a means of sharing your emotions with others who are grieving or not grieving. It is highly recommended that you allow yourself to grieve and don’t hide it as it could lead to mental illness such as depression. Individuals are encouraged to grief because it helps them to come to terms with what has happened and they can now plan for the next action in their lives. Grieving is an express indication that you understand what has happened and its consequences. The way individuals’ grief is highly influenced by religious rituals, personal beliefs, and cultural traditions.
4. Don’t Make Decisions When Grieving
You might be the senior person or the most reliable individual when it comes to making decisions. You should understand that, when grieving, your judgment could be clouded and you can make a poor decision that you may live to regret or add to your sorrows. It is recommended that you postpone significant decisions in your life such as making financial changes or taking even a new job. If it is something emergent, you can consult a trusted friend or a family member to decide on your behalf. A significant number of individuals have moved from one problem to another after making a poor decision during their grieving process.
5. Liberate Yourself and Move Forward
One of the best methods of coping with grief is ensuring that you liberate yourself from the loss and plan how to move forward. You can liberate yourself by providing that you remember the loss but it does not create anxiety in your life, nor does it cause you to feel a strong, painful emotion about it. You can do this by appreciating the positives and ignoring the negatives. This will ultimately be followed by the need to move forward and forget the past. Don’t let your past hold you to the extent that you cannot make future decisions. This is the best time to replace your loss with something or someone else so that you can move forward.
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