Grief: Coping and Healing after a Loved One’s Death
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton wrongful death lawyer. Losing someone you love is one of the most traumatic events in your life. Coping with a loved one’s death is a challenge and can cause an emotional crisis. You may endure a wide array of unexpected emotions including shock, denial, anger, guilt and sadness. The pain associated with grief can also interfere with your physical health, making it difficult for you to sleep, eat or think clearly. Grief is a natural and normal response to the death of your loved one. Although there is no easy solution to cope with pain, there are healthy ways to ease your sadness.
Coping with Grief
Everyone undergoes grief differently. The healing process takes time and it should not be rushed. While some people may start to heal in weeks or months, it may take years for others. No matter what your grief experience is, it is important to take your time and allow the grieving process to happen naturally.
- Take time to mourn: Give yourself plenty of time to mourn your loss. Mourning is an important process that can help lessen the feeling of grief.
- Seek support: It is normal to want to be alone while coping with grief. However, having the support of friends and family can help you in getting through the grieving process smoothly.
- Take care of yourself: Grief can affect your well-being. Take care of yourself by getting enough sleep, maintaining a balanced diet and keeping active.
- Avoid big decisions: Grief can cloud your judgment. During the grieving process, do not carry out any major decisions like making an expensive purchase, moving away or taking a new job.
Watch YouTube Video – By: WatchWellCast – The Grieving Process: Coping with Death
This animated video offers advice on how to cope with death and the grieving process.
Grief is Unpredictable
As time goes by, your pain will lessen, but it will never go away. Long after your loved one’s death, special occasions such as an anniversary of the death, your loved one’s birthday or holidays may remind you of the loss. These feelings are not necessarily a setback in the healing process, it is a reflection of how important your loved one was to you.
Coping with Grief Recurrence
Reactions to grief recurrence can last for days or longer. During a reminder of the loss, you may experience the deep emotions that you felt when you first lost your loved one. These reactions can also trigger strong memories of the events and feelings surrounding the death of your loved one. For instance, remembering exactly where you were or what you were doing when your loved one died. Taking steps to cope with grief recurrence can help with the healing process.
- Be prepared: Prepare yourself to experience the emotions when your loved one’s death anniversary or birthday is approaching. Understanding that the reactions are healthy can help you recognize them and move towards healing.
- Plan a trip: Make plans to visit friends or go on a trip during the times when you are likely to be reminded of your loved one’s death.
- Start an annual tradition: Plant a tree in honor of your loved one, volunteer at your local hospital or make a donation to a charitable organization in your loved one’s name.
- Stay connected: Stay close to your friends and family. Join a bereavement support group to talk to others who understand what you are going through.
- Free all your emotions: It is okay to feel sad. However, don’t feel guilty when you experience happiness and joy. As you move on with your life, you may find yourself both crying and laughing during special celebrations.
The grieving process is unique from person to person. The grief experience varies depending on your relationship with the person you lost, your own personality and the events surrounding the death. Memories of your loved one, acceptance of the loss and your sorrow will slowly become a part of who you are.
Wrongful Death Lawyers in Stockton
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton wrongful death lawyer. Dealing with the death of a loved one is never easy. If you have lost someone you love due to wrongful death, call me today at (209) 227-1931 or toll-free at (808) 404-5400 to receive compassionate, free and friendly advice.
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I am a California member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a group of U.S. trial lawyers with million dollar verdicts and/or settlements for clients.
You may browse our prior cases and their results on our Verdicts and Settlements page.
Photograph Credit: By “Jim Jackson” via Pexels
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