Grief affects families and individuals in different ways. Experts at the Mayo Clinic point out that the length of time for grieving varies from individual to individual. Some people are able to begin moving on within weeks while it may be years for others. However, if normal symptoms of grief fail to improve with time and grief progresses to major depression, you may need professional treatment to help you cope with the loss.
Family and Friends
Friends and close family members can be comforting resources when grieving the loss of a loved one. But people often have a tendency to avoid others during this difficult time instead of drawing them close. Accept help from those who offer assistance. If you need a shoulder to lean on, don't be too proud to find support in others. You can cry in front of others and still be strong. Sharing your feelings and memories with others can help you get through the process of grieving. Just be prepared for plenty of ups and downs along the way.
Support Groups
Support groups offer grieving families an opportunity to share their sorrows with others who have experienced losses of their own. People who have found themselves in a similar situation may be able to help you cope better with your own loss. Contact funeral homes, churches, hospitals, hospices or mental health agencies in your community to find a bereavement support group near you.
Religious/Family Traditions
Talk to a clergy member to help you find solace in your faith. Religious traditions such as prayer and meditation may be helpful, as well. Ignoring the pain won't make it go away. Allow yourself to express whatever emotions you feel so that you can start to heal. You may be more comfortable talking about your feelings to your pastor than someone else. While some individuals find comfort in continuing to go to church, others stop attending worship services for a while until they begin to feel better. Do what feels right for you. The Association for Death Education and Counseling suggests participating in rituals besides religious rituals to help individuals and families cope with the loss of a loved one. Traditions that had meaning to the deceased are a way to remember that person and acknowledge her presence. Celebrate the person's birthday with a special family dinner, or bake her favorite flavor birthday cake and decorate it as she would have liked. Some families observe the anniversary of a loved one's death by doing something together on that day. Choose an activity the person would have enjoyed. For example, if your loved one always planted a flower garden, you might plant some flowers in her memory at a public park or on the grounds of an assisted living facility so that others can take joy in what she once did.
Grief Counseling
If you find that you are unable to deal with the loss of a loved one, you may need to talk to a mental health professional with experience in grief counseling. Grief counselors are trained to help you and your family work through your emotions and any feelings of guilt you might have. It's normal to feel sad and angry at first, but if you find yourself unable to accept the loss as time passes, it may be that your grief has developed into depression. In most circumstances, it is normal to feel disconnected from others for a time before being able to move forward again with your own life. California Home Care and Hospice reminds families that eventually moving on in life does not mean that you have forgotten the person who died. It only means that you are healing.
