How to Cope With Grief

It's common to grieve for a year or more after a major loss. Give yourself time, and get the support you need.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Video On Sorrow Coping
• Acrylic Paints
• Artist's Canvases
• Journals
• Counseling For Depression

1. Reach out to friends and family. They may not understand what you're going through, but they can offer support. Get additional support from people who have experience dealing with grief: hospice staff or clergy, for example.

2. Take care of your health. It may be the last thing you feel like doing, but it can make coping easier.

3. Make an appointment with a counselor or join a support group. If you'd prefer, join an e-mail support group.

4. Talk to your doctor about anti-depressants if it's hard for you to function.

Tips & Warnings

• Get creative. Many people find painting, drawing and other expressive activities cathartic.
• Read about the stages and effects of grief to become more familiar with your own experience.
• Note that some people don't express feelings until long after a loss has occurred.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs while you are grieving. Suppressing your emotions can be counterproductive.
• Grief experts suggest avoiding making major decisions during periods of grief.

[harvard]

on 6/5/2009 Amazing comment provoking article! I lost a California life, the girl of my dreams and my dog in a short time but realize better things may be just ahead. I only wish optimism was contagious! Thank you.

[bethmm]

on 3/19/2009 For the one grieving-it takes what it takes to get through it. And getting through it is exactly what you are doing. You have people around who don't know what to do to help, but want to. And for those who want to help-just keep checking in. After the first few weeks, it gets SUPER lonely. People stop calling and coming over and that's the hardest time I think. Take walks, even in your PJ's! I did-I didn't even care after my husband died. I walked around and around the block, sometimes crying hard! But I always felt a little better afterwards! Also, very important-take B vitamins-B1, B-complex. This helps tremendously.

[Smireles]

on 1/29/2009 My words are for the friends of someone in grief. Be kind. Do not try to pretend that you understand. If you have never experienced what your friend is or has gone through you cannot know exactly what they are feeling. Be honest and be available if they need you.

[monaghan]

on 11/24/2008 After losing my sister a few weeks ago, I found out real soon, that I had to be "very kind to myself"
I know people love to see be your old self again, but they are not the people that love you.
Many people today, do not want to talk about death and how very silly they. A grieving person, may really need a laugh. At a time of grief, laughing and crying can be the same, it's just a way to cope.
For myself, I did the things that always comfort me.
Doing things with hands, your don't have to do a Masterpiece, in fact, when I look at the things I did, I can see how I was healing slowly each day. Some days you move ahead three steps, and the next day, you are on square one again. Be so very kind to yourself on thoes days most of all. Yes, in time you will feel like giving to others. No two people express grief the same way. I am in the process myself, and do one day at a time (with much

[ArtistGrrrl]

on 10/30/2008 I endured the end of a 9 year relationship with the love of my life. It ended nastily. I cried every day for two years after that, (not an exageration!). Just when I was barely beginning to recover from the loss of my love, I lost my mother to pancreatic cancer. It's now been 9 months and I am still in deep profound grief. I cannot count the ways in which my life has been changed by this deep all consuming and unending sadness. I will never be the same.