Death is normal, but it's one of the most challenging things for someone to deal with. You're going to deal with the death of a loved one at least once in your life, which may be a challenge. The grieving process for many has spiralled into unhealthy habits, but it's important to work towards staying healthy in this difficult time. So, here is how you can continue being physically and mentally healthy whilst grieving.
Remember your loved one
When we lose a loved one, one of the best things you can do when grieving is to remember the good times and remember them for who they were before their death, illness, or whatever caused them to pass away. Memories will surface throughout your day - in the sights, smells, and events you encounter. Practising gratitude for them will help you feel a sense of peace, healing, and connection to your lost loved one. Look at photos, talk about them, and do what you can to help you in this process.
Don't be afraid to cry
Of all the times in your life, this is the time not to bottle up how you feel. It's normal to feel sadness, anger, fear, loneliness, guilt, or any number of other emotions during the grieving process. However, even if you can't cry or that emotion doesn't come up, try to allow whatever other feeling you have.
Many people who recently lost a loved one worry that they aren't experiencing grief as they're 'supposed' to. They may even think crying is necessary to show their sadness, It's normal to feel numb or suppress feelings of grief when you first lose someone. Anticipatory grief is also common, which happens when you've been expecting a loss and have already felt the associated emotions before it actually occurs.
Be patient with yourself
During this challenging time in life, you're going to have to work towards being patient with yourself. Grief is a process that takes time and involves big emotions. Don't expect to get back on your feet immediately. While you may find people who encourage you to keep busy, giving yourself space to grieve without distraction is crucial.
This can mean planning to do things that you enjoy - reading, baking, walking - or spending quality time with friends or family members. Make sure you stay patient and just allow yourself the time to grieve. It can be hard to understand death and even allow it to sync in and hit you. So, just make sure you're patient with this all.
Do self-care
Taking care of yourself when you're grieving is vital; it's hard to do it. Many just want to run to an unhealthy coping mechanism, such as eating or drinking, to numb the pain. But you have to work towards self-care, and you need to stay as healthy as possible. Why? Well, not only can it help you stay healthy, but it can also help you heal faster.
It's very easy to let your health go during the midst of grief, but it is crucial to keep up your normal routine and ensure that you get enough sleep, eat nutritionally balanced meals, and exercise. Sure, it can be hard to balance staying healthy while planning a funeral, but good funeral directors at the funeral home you're going to can help you out with the funeral planning process.
Death is hard, so make sure to really look after yourself during this time. In all honesty, the pain is always going to be there, but it will get better over time. It may take a few weeks, months, and even years, but whatever stage in the grieving process you're at, just know, I'm here for you.
If you have previously had to grieve the loss of a loved one, what advice would you give to someone going through that process right now? Please feel free to let me know in the comments.
How did you get through your grief?
Love Beth xx