The art of dealing with grief

If there are two things that’s certainly inevitable, it’s death and change.  Once in your life, you, or someone you know will be grieving or is grieving over the loss of a loved one.  Either way, it’s one experience that is never easy to deal with.

If you are going through this phase, here are a couple of things you need to remember to cope with the loss:

• Understand that grief is a natural response to a loss.  The more significant the deceased is, the more intense the grief is.
• When it comes to coping with the loss, no two persons are alike.  Grieving is a highly personal and individual experience and everyone will have different ways of facing the reality of the loss.  There’s also no such thing as a timetable for grieving.  Some will be able to recover after a few months or a year, while others may not be able to move on for years and years.
• Accept the fact that it is okay to be sad, frightened and worried about facing another day without the person you have lost.  Crying is never a sign of weakness and you don’t always have to put on that stoic front to protect your family.
• Everyone going through the grieving phase will need someone to help them cope.  So don’t be afraid to talk about your feelings when you are grieving.  This can help unload some of the burden of grief.  You can start with your family and friends, but you can also join support groups, where you can share your experiences with people who are going through the same thing.  If you’re not comfortable with speaking up about your experiences, try writing about your feelings.  You can write funeral poems and dedicate it to your deceased love one or friend, or make a journal where you can write your thoughts and feelings.
•  Never forget to look after yourself.  The stress of not only dealing with the loss but also with the expenses involved in planning the funeral, or considering options such as direct cremation can be taxing, physically and emotionally.  So you need to get as much rest as you can to regain your strength and recover at least, physically.  Feel free to take a few weeks off from work to recharge.