Grief is one of the most universally relatable human emotions. At some point, just about everyone experiences a significant loss in their lives, whether that loss takes the form of the death of a loved one, a divorce or breakup, a change in circumstances, or something else entirely.
When you’re in the thick of grief, it can feel impossible to imagine that your life will ever return to normal, or that you’ll ever be able to feel happy again. However, humans are incredibly resilient, and finding peace on the other side of the grief process is possible.
How To Deal With Grief
There’s no easy way out of grief, but keeping these simple guidelines in mind when dealing with grief can help make a difficult situation a little easier.
- Release yourself from expectations. Everyone grieves differently, and there’s no right or wrong way to do it. Try not to compare yourselves to other people you know, or representations of grief you’ve seen in the media. The idea that grief should look a certain way or last a certain amount of time is both untrue and unhelpful.
- Let people help. Grief can feel lonely, but the people in your life who care about you will want to support you. Let go of any anxiety you feel about being a burden, and let them help. It may also be healing to seek out a mental health professional or grief counselor who can help you start processing your feelings.
Keep in mind that although most people are well-intentioned, they may feel awkward or not know how to help you. If you can, be specific about what you need when people reach out. You might say things like, “It’s been really hard to find the energy to cook lately. Do you think you could help with a few meals?” or, “I could really use someone to help me take my mind off of things. Do you think we could do something on X day? - Don’t bottle it up. Grief isn’t fun, but as the adage goes, the only way out is through. Trying to suppress your emotions in the short term will only make them more powerful when they do eventually find an outlet.
- Take care of yourself. It’s normal for many of your daily routines (like sleeping, eating, exercising, seeing family/friends, and doing chores) to be disrupted when grieving. Don’t be too hard on yourself for this; but at the same time, try to take care of your physical health as best you can. At the very least, be sure to continue eating regularly, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of rest.
RADIAS Health provides person-centered integrated healthcare services to people experiencing mental illness, substance use, or co-occurring disorders. Compassionate, skilled health care and support staff deliver our behavioral health services. In addition, our care includes supplementary services such as case management, supportive housing, homeless services, residential services, outpatient DBT treatment, and more. If you or someone you know could benefit from our mission, contact us today or consider donating!