The sad reality is that all of us will experience loss in our lives. Grieving can be an extremely difficult process. There is no rulebook or instructional manual to follow, but hopefully, you will find these tips helpful if you’re trying to cope with the loss of a loved one.
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Help and support
It’s incredibly hard to come to terms with loss and to start looking forward, especially if you try and muddle through on your own. You might not feel like you want to talk to anybody for a while, but knowing people are there can be hugely reassuring. You should never feel pressured to open up or make calls to friends and family, but sometimes, having a shoulder to cry on, a friendly and familiar voice on the end of the line or even somebody to sit and watch TV with you in the evening can be comforting. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people who are checking in and getting in touch if you want to chat, or you feel like you need some company. People are there to help and support you, and they’ll understand if one day you need space, and the next you don’t want to be on your own.
Practical advice
Losing somebody is not just an emotional upheaval. There are also lots of practicalities to deal with, including planning a funeral. It can be overwhelming to find yourself in a situation where you need to make calls to banks or law firms or suddenly choose poems or songs for a funeral when you’re grieving. The important thing to remember is that others are there to help. You can seek expert advice to help you with legal and financial issues, and it’s also beneficial to choose a funeral home like Miller Funeral Home that provides support. When you’re distressed, and you feel like you have a hundred jobs to do, having friendly faces there to help can make all the difference. If you don’t know of any funeral homes in your area, it’s a good idea to ask neighbors or friends for recommendations and to take the time to meet representatives.
Time
Many of us live our lives at a hundred miles per hour, and we feel pressure to keep up momentum and hit deadlines on a continual basis. Losing somebody is traumatic, and it will impact every aspect of your life. It is so important to take your time to heal and recover, and to understand that there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to grieving. Some people might want to be busy, but for others, the thought of even getting out of bed may be daunting. Allow yourself to feel, and don’t suppress your emotions. It is highly likely that you will go through ups and downs and experience moments when grief will hit you like a train that seems to come from nowhere. Don’t apply too much pressure to yourself to get back to ‘normal,’ but don’t feel guilty if you enjoy going out for a coffee with a friend or you want to go back to work. Everybody is different and there is no time limit on grief. Take each day as it comes, and recognize when you need to slow down, look after yourself and seek help and support from others.
Losing somebody is one of the most traumatic experiences we go through as human beings. If you’re navigating the grieving process, reach out to others, seek advice and don’t feel pressure to conform to a time-frame.
