Even though death is a natural part of the cycle of life, it's never easy to say goodbye to someone you love. Whether the death was sudden due to an accident or crime or expected because of illness, coping with the loss of a loved one requires the individual to work through the various emotions.
Step 1
Allow yourself to grieve and feel the appropriate emotions that come with the death of someone you love. Different people manifest grief in different ways. You may feel angry, depressed, sad or hurt or even be in denial.
Step 2
Get support from friends and other family members. Talk about your feelings with other people who are going through the same thing. Express the emotions you are feeling and listen to others feeling the same things. Relating with others can help you work through your emotions and feelings.
Step 3
Turn to your faith for support, if you practice a certain religion. Praying, talking with a church pastor or counselor and meditating can all be ways to help mourn and come to terms with your loss.
Step 4
Join a grief support group. Talk with other people in the group about your feelings and get advice on how other people dealt with their loss of a family member. Different people in the group may be at different stages of grieving, so gaining insight from them may help you now as well as down the road.
Step 5
Pay attention to things that may trigger your grief, such as birthdays, anniversaries and certain songs on the radio, and plan accordingly. Know that it's normal to experience grief during those triggers. Let a friend or family member know you might need them for support during that time.
Step 6
Talk with a grief counselor. Professional counselors know how to help you deal with the emotional pain associated with the death of a loved one and can help you take steps to deal with that pain and grieve appropriately and effectively.
