Losing someone you love to death can be overwhelming, scary and pull you into a pit of despair. Or, you may breeze right through the first few months and suddenly fall apart.
There is no right or wrong way to mourn. We all have our own mechanisms for coping with loss, and grief is a natural response to loss. Emotional suffering can manifest itself as pain, shock, anger, guilt, and profound sadness.
Please remember: do not be ashamed about any emotion that you are feeling due to a loss, but always acknowledge the feelings.
Tip #5 for Emotional Wellness: Cope with Loss
A few examples of how to cope with loss are (recommended by the National Institutes of Health):
- Take care of yourself
- Talk to caring friends
- Find a grief support group
- Don’t make major changes right away
- Talk to your doctor
- Consider additional support
- Be patient
Whether old or young, the first loss or one of many, grief isn’t one-size-fits-all. Coping with a loss takes time, but healing takes place as time moves on. Whatever your grieving experience, it is very important to be patient with yourself, show compassion, and take care of yourself. Finding what is the best method for you to cope with the loss may take some experimentation. Support groups work for some people and not for others.
Telling your employer about your loss can be helpful, as there may be an EAP (employee assistance program) that you forgot about that can provide covered counseling and/or support.
Additionally, sharing your loss with trusted co-workers may relieve some of the emotional burden. Typically, there is someone who has experienced grief who also understands and can provide some comfort.
Ultimately, no other person or prescription can take the pain of a loss from us until we move through the process of grief, but know you are not alone and there are tools to assist you throughout the process. Reach out for support and be patient with yourself!
Does your employer have an EAP that you could begin using? Reach out to your human resources department to learn more about this benefit!
Other elements of emotional wellness:
