It is human nature to grieve when we lose someone, something, or suffering an injury or illness, often trying to find reasons for losses.
What does grief look like?
- Feeling down, blue or hopeless
- Having crying spells
- Feeling irritable
- Feeling guilty or worthless
- Wondering if life is worth living
- Having difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
- Experiencing low energy, getting tired easily
- Eating a lot more or a lot less
- Keeping to yourself
- Not enjoying things like before
- Feeling restless, having difficulty sitting still
- Can’t stop worrying about problems or the future
- Having difficulty making decisions, concentrating and remember things
The more items you identify with on this list, the more distressed you may feel, l and the more likely it is that you need help. Talk with trusted family, friends and professionals that can help you.
Strategies for coping with grief:
- Realize that your feelings are common and a normal response to a difficult situation
- Be kind to yourself - give yourself and others times to adjust
- Think about the future you want and the best way to get there
- Appreciate the value of patience and persistence in reaching your goals
- Take on step at a time and set goals for each day
- Avoid dwelling on how things were or from making comparisons to how things used to be
- Focus on successes, strengths, and resources
- Recognize the good things in your life and changes for the better
- Be hopeful. Say positive things to yourself and others. For example, “we will make it through this” or “we’ve come so far”
- Talk to and spend time with the people who care about you
- Join a support group, talk to others for support
- Build new relationships and improve old relationships
- Remember that others face similar challenges and ask others how they deal with losses and changes
- Give up some old responsibilities when you take on new ones
- Allow yourself to ask others for help and support
- Remain active, try to do things you enjoy
- Distract yourself with music, a book, a movie, television or another activity you enjoy
- Try to find new interests and activities
- Give yourself breaks and try to be patient with yourself
- Learn about treatments, resources and recovery
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