Losing a close relative or family friend can be a difficult period for your family. It can be especially difficult for young children to cope with, as it may be their first experience with losing someone close to them. It will take time for everyone in your family to work through their grief and come to terms with what has happened. If it was a sudden death, this process might take slightly longer. To help you through this difficult time, here are five ways your family can cope with grief.
Picture Source
Everyone Is Different
It is important to remember that everyone will deal with bereavement differently. So don’t expect all your family’s reactions to be the same. Just because someone isn’t crying doesn’t mean that they aren’t grieving. We also grieve for different lengths of time. So don’t try to tell a relative how they should mourn and how long the process should take. There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to dealing with loss.
Get Support
If possible, reach out to others who aren’t affected by the loss for support. It is very likely that you will feel the need to reach out to someone to talk to about your experience. Friends and relatives will always be there for you and can provide a shoulder to cry on. It could also be a good idea to seek out professional help. There are many support groups that specialize in helping bereaved people during their time of need. If you feel yourself becoming suicidal or having trouble living life, then speak to a professional straight away.
Create a Personal Memorial
After the death, a funeral and cremation or burial will take place. While these are perfectly good ways of remembering a loved one, you may prefer to remember them in your very own way as well. Creating a memorial gives you a chance to work through your guilt with creativity. You can express your feelings in a way that depicts your closeness to the deceased. You’ll also create something that you can keep forever as a memento to help you always remember your loved on. If you don’t have time to make a memorial yourself, you could commission a bespoke piece from an artist or jeweler. One popular option is to have diamonds made from ashes.
Take Care Of Yourself
It can be difficult to keep on top of fitness workouts and a healthy diet while you are trying to cope with bereavement. But the better care you take of yourself will help you to deal with the stress of the situation. It is especially important if you have a family to look after. Make sure you are all eating three square meals a day and taking regular exercise. Exercise is a great step in combatting stress and fatigue that is often brought on by grief.
Trying to live with grief and loss can be very difficult, but with the right help and support, you will find it easier to manage and live with.