Death is a natural part of life, no matter how painful it may be. Whether the death is sudden or expected due to a long illness your loved one may have been suffering from, it does not make the pain any easier to deal with. As HelpGuide.org explains, when your loved one passes, you may feel a wide array of emotions. These include guilt, anger, shock and sadness. While some emotions may never completely fade, you can find ways to overcome the death itself and move forward.
Step 1
Seek support from those around you. No better time exists to lean on those closest to you for support, especially if the one who passed was close to them as well. If you are the one making the funeral arrangements, accept any help they offer. If you need a shoulder to cry on during the times you falter, use theirs. Together you can get each other through this difficult time in your lives.
Step 2
Allow yourself to express your feelings. HealthyPlace.com points out that you need to express your feelings during this time of mourning and grief. While you may have people to turn to, it is still important for you to allow yourself time to cry or be angry. The site adds that, in many cases, a person ignores the feelings of grief; this is not healthy as it does not allow you to resolve your feelings.
Step 3
Take care of yourself. HelpGuide.org stresses the importance of taking care of yourself physically. Be sure you get enough sleep, exercise and nutrition. The site explains that the mind and body are connected; if you feel good physically, you will feel better emotionally.
Step 4
Create a journal or scrapbook. One way to express and cope with your feelings is to write about them in a journal or to create a scrapbook, according to HelpGuide.org. In your journal, you can not only write down how the death made you feel and continues to make you feel, you can also write letters to your loved one expressing everything you never got the chance to say. This may help ease your feelings of guilt.
Creating a scrapbook of the most memorable moments of the deceased's life can also help; it is a way for you to celebrate his life.
Step 5
Talk to a therapist. When nothing else seems to a work, find a therapist to speak to, and be sure she specializes in grief counseling. She may have the ability to help you overcome any major feelings of grief that you are unable to overcome on your own.
Step 6
Plan ahead for moments of mourning. Certain moments in your life are going to be difficult, such as holidays, anniversaries and birthdays. Discuss this with members of your family to determine how you want to deal with these moments. Rather than grieving the absence of your loved one, you may want to dedicate that day to her and make it a celebration of her life.
Things You'll Need
- Journal
- Scrapbook
- Pictures
