The loss of a loved one can be emotionally overwhelming and take a huge toll on our mental health. Coping with loss is not easy – emotional outbursts being a common occurrence followed by shame and guilt. However, it is important to learn to forgive ourselves and to remind ourselves that these emotions are valid and acceptable in such trying times. It is important to keep the following tips in mind in order to ensure that you are coping in a healthy way without damaging your mental health.
Face Your Feelings
In order to heal, you need to face your loss. By pushing away the pain, you may temporarily feel fine, but the emotions will soon build up to a breaking point. Despite it being incredibly hard, you should try talking about the death of a loved one. Such times can be incredibly lonely and opening up to someone about it may help you understand and process your feelings. Moreover, it helps reduce such feelings of loneliness.
Accept Your Emotions
Remind of yourself of those around you and ask for help when you need it. It can be hard to cope with loss all by yourself given that the loss itself triggers feeling of loneliness, thus by sharing your pain with others, especially those who are also suffering the loss, the experience itself may bring you closer as well as help you heal.
Share Your Feelings
It is normal to feel an abundance of emotions, whether you want to cry or feel afraid or even lonely is fine. You do not have to be strong. Let yourself be vulnerable. However, on the other hand, you do not have to cry. Although crying is a normal response, it is not the only response, and everyone grieves differently. It is important to come to terms with your feelings and accept them.
Allow Yourself to Move On
Often, people feel guilty for moving on with their life. Remind yourself that, by moving on, you are not choosing to forget them but rather that their memory will live within your heart forever. In fact, as we move through life, these memories can become more and more integral to defining the people we are.