To Help You Cope With Grief
Losing someone you love or care deeply about is very painful. You may experience all kinds of difficult emotions and it may feel like the pain and sadness you’re experiencing will never end. These are normal reactions to a significant loss. But while there is no right or wrong way to grieve, there are healthy ways to cope with the pain that, in time, can help you cope with grief, renew you and permit you to move on.
The single most important factor in healing from loss is having the support of other people. Even if you aren’t comfortable talking about your feelings under normal circumstances, it is important to express them when you’re grieving. Sharing your loss makes the burden of grief easier to carry. Wherever the support comes from, accept it and do not grieve alone. Connecting to others will help you heal.
Below are a few suggestion to help support you during this difficult time:
- Join a Support Group
- Take Care of Yourself (Eat healthy, take long walks, get plenty of rest)
- Talk to a therapist or grief counselor
- Draw comfort from your faith
- Express your feelings through journal writing
It is important to remember, with support, patience and effort, you will survive your grief. Some day the pain will lessen, leaving you with cherished memories of your loved one.
Our grief response
Elizabeth Babcock, one of the speakers who has provided families with information and comfort during Pet Memorial Sunday and in our AfterCare Series, prepared an article about grief from her notes from those presentations. Our society does a terrible job communicating about and preparing us for grief and it is her mission to help families validate their feelings of loss and bewilderment that often accompany the loss of a pet.
Because our pets are such an integral part of our daily life, the grief experienced upon the loss of your pet may even be more intense than grief occurring during the loss of a human family member. I invite you to read her article at Grief: What All Mourners Need to Know.