The loss of a loved one is never easy; even if you had the chance to say goodbye. While it's important to remember the positive memories you shared together, it can sometimes feel impossible when grief hits you all at once, making it impossible to carry on with your day-to-day life. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing grief, as the emotions affect each and every one of us in a different way. However, there are different techniques and strategies that you can try to support yourself during this time. This includes:
Handling the difficult stuff right away. One of the biggest challenges of grieving is the fact that you’re suddenly met with a lot of legal paperwork to deal with, not to mention the staggering costs of planning a funeral. While it's likely you’d rather think of anything else but this during this time, it's better that you deal with them right away so you can begin grieving.
Lay your loved one to rest. Planning a funeral is hard, but it can also be therapeutic as it gives you the chance to say goodbye and celebrate the life of your loved one. You should also think carefully about where you would like to bury your loved one. Believe it or not, these spaces do not have to be sombre or gloomy spaces. For example, Brightwater memorial park is a bright and uplifting space where you can spend time remembering your loved one and reflecting on the joy they brought into your life.
Understand that grief comes in waves. One of the biggest challenges of grieving is the fact that it comes in waves. This means that you may wake up one morning feeling more like your normal self again, only to be met by intense sadness later on. One way in which you can cope with these changing emotions is by learning the different stages of grief. This gives you a chance to develop a range of healthy coping mechanisms.
Take some time off. Whenever we’re going through a difficult time, it's easy to feel as though we need to get things back to ‘normal’ as soon as possible. However, this often means that we push our feelings and emotions down as opposed to dealing with them, which only results in more pain further down the line. As a result, it's important that you assess your needs carefully during this time. Don’t be afraid to ask for time off should you need it. Then, use this time to prioritise self-care, spending time doing things that you love to do.
Write down the happy memories. Sadness can take over your feelings quickly if you’d let it, making it hard for you to look back on happy times with your loved ones. One way in which you can combat this is by taking some time to write down those happy memories you shared, as studies suggest that writing things down can bring them to the forefront of your mind. This is also a great way to ensure your memories last forever.
