How to cope with losing a loved one
Grief can be tough to cope with, but there are things you can do to help ease the pain.
Dealing with grief is one of the most challenging things you'll do
But know that you will get through this and it's ok to seek support along the way.
Things to remember:
- It's important to accept how you feel
- Some days will be harder than others
- Take your time and be patient with yourself
- You may never get over the loss completely, but you will heal
- You will move back and forth between sadness and feeling better
- If it gets overwhelming, there is support available
- There are strategies that can help you cope - check them out below
Remember to take care of yourself!
Grief can be physically and emotionally draining. You will need to look after yourself to help you get through this difficult time by:
- Eating healthily and frequently
- Sticking to your usual routine
- Getting enough exercise
- Prioritising daily tasks
- Getting a good night's sleep
- Staying connected with others
- Avoiding alcohol and drugs
- Being kind to yourself
- Spending some time alone
- Doing something you enjoy
Strategies to help
Here are some strategies to help you process your loss:
Acknowledge your pain in order to heal
Avoiding the loss or bottling up feelings will only make your journey longer.
Talk to someone you trust
Don’t be afraid to share your emotions with others.
Let your emotions out
Cry or talk about your feelings, play music, draw, write, dance, or punch some pillows.
Support each other
Talk to others who are grieving; share special memories or what you miss most about the person who is gone.
Keep a diary
Writing can be a great way to explore how you feel and tracking your feelings over time.
Let others help
It’s ok to accept help from family or friends. Let them know what they can do to help you.
Take time out
It’s ok to smile or laugh, it doesn’t mean that you’re forgetting your loss or moving on.
Give it time
IIt takes time to heal from losing someone or something close to you. Be patient with yourself.
Some days will be rough, but over time it will get better. This doesn't mean that you're forgetting the person you've lost; it means that you're finding a way to cope with it.
Saying goodbye matters
When you're feeling ready, it can be helpful to get some closure by saying goodbye to the person you lost.
Ways to say goodbye include:
- Going to a funeral or memorial service
- Participating in rituals and ceremonies
- Writing a letter or email
- Writing a poem or song
- Sending a message off in a balloon
Honouring your loss
Finding ways to remember and honour the person you lost can help soothe the pain you feel. It can be something simple like:
- Planting a tree
- Keeping a journal
- Taking part in a charity event
- Sharing memories with others
- Making a donation in their name
- Talking about their life
- Making a photo album
- Cooking their favourite meal
- Building a memorial with personal items and objects that remind you of them
- Visiting or spending time in a place you feel close to them
- Buying a special candle and lighting it at memorable times
- Volunteering with a charity or cause close to their heart
- Writing a song or poem about them
- Creating a new tradition to remember them
- Finding or creating a special space to spend time with them
- Doing something that you used to do together
- Attending an event that reminds you of them (sports game, movie, play)
- Doing something they would have enjoyed
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