Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult parts of life, especially if the loss was sudden and from someone else’s reckless behavior or irresponsible actions. If you lost a loved one due to a vehicle accident, criminal act, defective products, or medical malpractice, visit 1-800-Injured for more information about your legal options in a wrongful death case. Learn more about how to cope with the loss of a loved one below.
Reach Out for Emotional Support When Needed
Losing a loved one can feel like a truly lonely experience, even if you are consciously aware that most people have experienced loss before. Don’t suffer and struggle on your own. Reach out to friends and family members if you need some support, or try a service like Crisis Text Line to talk to a trained crisis counselor if you need to.
It can be tempting to try to hide how we are doing in the aftermath of a tragic event, but being honest with others about how you are doing and feeling can open up meaningful conversations and exchanges with loved ones.
If you feel like you need professional help, try to find a local or remote therapist or counselor. Many communities offer free or low-cost mental health care.
Remember That Your Feelings Are Normal
While in grief, we may experience emotions that we didn’t expect to feel after losing a loved one. Whether you feel devastation and sadness or anger and agony, your feelings are completely normal.
Some people may even feel a sense of relief after losing a loved one, which then leads to feelings of guilt and bewilderment about those feelings. Grief and feelings of loss vary greatly from person to person, but no matter what you feel on a given day, it’s just fine to feel what you feel.
Realize That Grief Comes in Waves
Although it might be nice if grief followed a more linear progression, and we simply no longer felt it after we went through a series of steps. Unfortunately, grief doesn’t work that way. Grief tends to come and go, and some days it may hit you like a tsunami, other days it may feel more like a lazy river.
If you understand that grief progresses this way ahead of time, it can help you hang in there when you most feel like you’re drowning in your emotions.
Be as Gentle with Yourself as Possible
If the death of a loved one causes you to abandon all of the health and wellness routines you had adopted or makes you unable to keep the house clean, try not to fret. You deserve compassion during these difficult times. Many of us fail to give ourselves enough compassion on a daily basis, but this is especially true when we are struggling emotionally.
In Conclusion
There are no quick fixes or easy remedies to help us feel better instantly after losing a loved one, but keeping these few tips in mind can make the process just a bit easier.
