How to begin dealing with your grief

One of the most profound things we deal with when we are in grief is the fact that everyone grieves in their own way.

Your grief is your own, and it does not have to fit into a template to be “healthy,” as much as some people might hope it would. For many of us, that is a relief.

At the same time, dealing with the specific ways our grief is being expressed can feel isolating and even frightening. For some people it is helpful to learn from those who have gone before and those who study grief: how it can affect our health, our relationships, and virtually every aspect of our everyday lives.

To that end, the articles below offer a broader understanding of the grieving process, a deeply human experience that is at once individual and universal.

Is there a right way to grieve?

In a word: No. It can be incredibly helpful to try to understand your way of grieving, however.

Taking stock of your daily experiences—and tracking them over time—can be a powerful way to process the volatile emotions of grief. There are several approaches to help you do just that.

Full article: Is there a right way to grieve?

When grief feels like too much

At times our grief can feel all-encompassing or overwhelming, and it seems impossible to see through to the other side. This, too, is a healthy part of grieving—although intensely painful.

While there is no one universal secret to getting through this time in your life, people find relief in various ways during the darkest and most excruciating periods of grief.

Full article: When grief feels like too much

Dealing with guilt during grief

Guilt is one of the most common emotions we feel after someone close to us dies. You may feel you somehow could have done something different to prevent their death, or you feel guilty that they died while you remain alive.

Whatever the source, feelings of guilt can make grief can feel complex and confusing while you’re going through it—especially since your loved one cannot grant you the closure you may feel you need.

Full article: Dealing with guilt during grief

Feeling numb after a loss

Numbness is a normal part of grieving for many people. The death of someone you love is a shock to the system, and in reaction to this shock, some people find themselves unable to cry or show emotion.

It does not mean that you are not processing your grief, no matter what friends and family may tell you.

Full article: Feeling numb after a loss

How grief can affect your body

The anguish and exhaustion of grief can take a profound toll the body. Many people find that physical symptoms they think are unrelated to the death of their loved one are actually common ailments during grief.

Grief can lead to heart-related issues—there’s even a condition known as broken heart syndrome—as well as aches and pains, digestive problems, insomnia, and so-called “brain fog,” to name just a few.  

Full article: How grief can affect your body

Finding professional help for grief

In a culture that is uncomfortable talking about death, it is easy to feel that grief is something to be fixed rather than a healing process that unfolds at its own pace.

It is absolutely normal to be deeply emotionally affected by your loss, and nobody can or should tell you to go to a mental health professional to get “back to normal.”

But if you feel that your symptoms of grief are having a prolonged effect on your day-to-day life or simply your ability to get out of bed in the morning, a professional therapist or grief counselor can provide you with tools and coping mechanisms to make life more manageable. After all, you deserve all the support you can get ●

Full article: Finding professional help for grief