How to Get Over a Close Death

Giving yourself time to mourn a close death is a natural and healthy way to come to grips with loss.

As unavoidable as death is, it is hard to accept the death of a loved one and move on with your own life. No one can tell you how to appropriately grieve. There is no time limit on mourning, and some may even grieve a loss for the rest of their lives. However, there are some initial steps you can take to deal with the death of someone close to you and move on to enjoy life with the people you have left.

Instructions

Staying Positive

1. 

   If it's too hard to talk about a death with someone else, maintaining a private journal can be just as therapeutic.

   Talk or write about what happened. This is part of accepting the loss and confronting your own emotional response to it.

2. Get as much closure as possible. Difficult things, like viewing your loved one's embalmed body or learning the results of an autopsy, can actually help you move on. Push yourself to get through these painful moments of closure, even if you don't feel up to it.

3. 

   Maintaining a strong support system can make the grieving process less lonely.

   Support others who are grieving the same loss. Rather than letting a close death become a silent burden that weighs down your family and friends, strengthen your relationships with them. Bonding through grief will help you focus on the people who remain rather than the person you have lost.

4. 

   Life must go on, so don't let grief consume your entire way of life. Develop a stable routine and adopt healthy habits as soon as you are ready.

   Develop a healthy routine. The emotional devastation of losing a loved one can affect your physical and mental health, so do what you can to keep your body and mind strong. Don't let stress or anguish get in the way of eating well, staying busy and living your life.

5. 

   Staying positive after a loss takes strength.

   Enjoy your life. There is no shame in having fun, laughing about fond memories or indulging in healthy distractions during the grieving process. In fact, continuing to find pleasure in life after a close death is an important part of maintaining a positive attitude.

Tips & Warnings

• Ignore any preconceived notions about what displays of grief are appropriate or the amount of time you should take to grieve. Do everything at your own pace and pay attention to what best fits your emotional needs. If you continue to experience prolonged depression after a close death, however, it may be helpful to seek professional counseling as an added means of support.

References

• Georgia State University Counseling Center: Understanding the Grieving Process; November 2009

Resources

• WebMD: Grief and Depression