17 Ways to Deal with Losing a Loved One

It’s probably the hardest thing you will ever have to deal with, losing a loved one.

No one should tell you to get over it—no matter how long ago it was, but there are things you can do to move forward, to deal with your loss.

17 Ways to Deal with Losing a Loved One:

1. Allow yourself to grief. You don’t have to pretend everything is alright when it isn’t. While it has been said that there are stages to grief, it has also been said that sometimes those stages get jumbled; a stage that you think has passed will resurface with no warning. Such is the nature of the process.

2. Keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings. It often helps to work through things on paper. You don’t have to write it for anyone but yourself. It’s perfectly acceptable to be 100 percent honest with yourself and write openly. Don’t pretend. Be real.

3. Go through old photographs and allow yourself the time to revisit the memories surrounding each picture. You may laugh or cry—or both. That’s fine. And if something you want to be sure to remember resurfaces, make note of it and keep the paper and photo together.

4. You may want to scrapbook these thoughts and pictures—or have someone do it for you. Even better, work on the project together with another individual who was also close to your loved one, a friend or family member.

5. Make an audio recording of your memories for yourself or for your family. Just like writing, it sometimes help to verbalize thoughts and feelings.

6. And don’t forget to share your heart with a compassionate friend, family member, pastor—even a professional counselor. That individual can help you work things through.

7. Listen to your loved one’s favourite music. Be aware that this can bring an onslaught of emotions, but it can make the individual seem closer and can stir happy memories.

8. You may want to write a letter to your loved one. Pour out your heart to him or her. Again, it may make him or her seem closer.

9. If you’ve kept cards and notes he or she wrote to you, you may want to reread them. Don’t rush. Savour each one. Think of the occasion and again, make note of memories that surface that you don’t want to forget.

10. Did your loved one have a favourite book? It might be a good time to read it and see why he or she liked it so much. A favourite movie? Watch it. A favourite food? Enjoy.

11. There are organizations that bring dogs and cats into care centres. Interacting with a pet can be very therapeutic. If you’re an animal lover—and even if you’re not—you may want to ask if this service would be available to you. You might be surprised at the comfort and joy you experience when you interact with an animal.

12. And speaking of therapy, art therapy is also a great way to work through your emotions. You may not be particularly artistic, but you can express your emotions in abstract art. Dark colours and harsh, angular, geometric shapes often reflect “negative” emotions, while bright colours and flowing lines often reflect joy and happiness. It’s perfectly acceptable if your work is a combination of the two.

13. Don’t feel guilty if these things are just too hard. Maybe you need to otherwise occupy your mind for a while. (One viagra generique woman had to put away all the photos of her father-in-law after he passed away. The two were very close and it took quite a while before she could put them back out, but she did—eventually.)

14. This might be the perfect time to start a new hobby, something you’ve always wanted to do.

15. And how about making some new friends? It’s never too late to do that.

16. Though your laughter may sound strange in your own ears. You may even feel guilty about laughing, but you don’t have to. Watch a comedy, read a book of jokes, whatever makes you laugh.

17. And remember . . . there are people who care about you and what you’re going through—and those who are going through the same thing. You are not alone.