These days, we are all dealing with hard things and tough times. Grief is affecting communities at large. Have you recently lost someone close to you? Listed below are a few suggestions on how to handle the grieving process:
- Allow yourself to feel. Try talking to those you trust, journaling, spending time with pets, or share your feelings with yourself by voicing them aloud.
- Keep your loved ones alive in your memory and life. Author Sir Terry Prattchet said, “no one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away.” An effective way to cope with grief is to find ways to remember the lost ones; tell stories, share introspection, plant memorial gardens, or do something that reminds you of your loved one.
- Allow yourself grace. While scientists are just beginning to scratch the surface of the neurobiology of grief, they do know that it causes changes to established brain patterns, stresses the nervous system, and puts significant strain on the body. Treat yourself kindly; do your best to eat well, rest often, and stay hydrated.