Dealing With The Loss Of A Loved One: Our Practical Guide

This is a collaborative post.

Coping with the loss of a loved one can be a challenge, particularly if you still have a family to care for and a job to do.

The world doesn’t stop for your grief, unfortunately, so you need to find a way to work around it and continue to function.

However, just because you have to carry on through your grief doesn’t mean you can’t acknowledge how you’re feeling.

It’s important that you talk about your loss and that you work to deal with your issues so that you don’t become absorbed by your grief or push it away too much.

Whether it’s a close friend or family member or someone you haven’t been in close contact with, grief can be scary and challenging, so you need to take it seriously.

Here are some tips to help you cope with your loss so that you can honor your relationship with the deceased and take care of yourself.

Think Practically

After you’ve been notified about a death, the first step is to think practically about what you need to do. If the person you lost was a distant relative or old friend, and you have no responsibilities towards them, then you still need to consider when to reach out to their close family and offer condolences, and if there’s anyone who might not have been notified, but should be informed, such as loose acquaintances. If you lost a close friend or family member, you need to think about what you need to do now that they are gone. This might include notifying employers and friends, shutting down bank accounts and contacting lawyers to ensure their estate is handled correctly. Make a checklist of everything you need to do, and if you’re unsure about something, then consult their lawyer to get a professional opinion.

Celebrate Their Life, Not Your Loss

For close family or friends, you might find yourself charged with planning the memorial service. If they did not leave instructions for how they wanted this to go, then you should try to focus on celebrating their life rather than focusing on the negative and the immense sorrow you feel. Calling your event a celebration of life can make it seem more enjoyable and less of a sombre occasion, meaning that your guests will be more open to sharing stories and anecdotes about your loved one. Framing the event in a positive light can also help you to manage your own feelings and find closure. You can check out this guide to find out more about how to find celebration of life invitations and how to choose the perfect design. You’ll then be able to get everyone in the right frame of mind before they attend your event, and help them to feel at ease.

Remember That Grief Takes Time

Those who have never experienced true grief before sometimes think that it’s easy to get over, and that it will take very little time to forget. However, the truth is that it can take many years to learn to cope without someone, particularly if you were very close to them. Make sure that you be kind to yourself and take the time you need to deal with your feelings. Acknowledge that your feelings are valid and work to understand them and manage them as best you can. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself to recover quickly, and instead take each day one at a time. By being kind to yourself and taking the time you need to grieve at your own pace, you’ll reduce your stress and, hopefully, allow yourself to have as smooth a transition from grief to acceptance as it’s possible to have.

Get Professional Help

Talking about your feelings can be good, but while your loved ones will want you to get better, they might not know what to say or how to help you. As such, if you feel that you need to talk to someone with experience dealing with grief, or if your grief becomes overwhelming and leaves you struggling to manage your everyday life, consider getting professional help. Find out about the signs that you need to see a grief counsellor, and if you’re concerned that you’re experiencing them, then book an initial appointment. Every counsellor is different and has a unique approach to dealing with trauma and grief, so don’t be dismayed if the first one you visit doesn’t give you the support you need. Instead, try to find another counsellor who can provide you with helpful and practical resources that you can use when you feel panicked or stressed out by your grief.

While there is no strategy to get rid of grief completely, there are ways you can manage it and ensure that it doesn’t take over your life. These tips should help you to understand your feelings and find ways to cope with them.