How to Go on Living When Someone You Love Dies
Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things to go through in this world. But it happens to us all (and we’ll be the loved one at some point too). Death is a natural part of life. Moving on after losing someone you love takes time, but it does happen. And we all do eventually go back to living our lives, even if at one point we felt like we never will.
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Instructions
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Allow yourself to mourn. You loved this person, so it’s only natural for you to be grief-stricken. Sometimes it will take a few days to hit you that the one you loved is truly gone; this is normal. Buy a jumbo box of tissues and let all your feelings out, once they do hit you.
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Take a few days to lay low if you need to. The worst thing you could do is go right back to doing everything too soon. Because we’ve all lost a loved one at some point, most people are incredibly understanding. This is why most companies have a bereavement leave—use it if you have it. Stay in bed all week if you need to.
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Consider seeing a grief counselor to help you with your pain, if you’re having serious trouble with your grief or still feel incredibly depressed after months.There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking outside assistance to help you through this tough time. Grief counselors can help you go back to living, so don't hesitate to find a counselor in your area.
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Go slow. Start slowly going back into society, whether it's a trip to the grocery store or a half-day at work. Take your time and rely on your friends and family to help you. You’ll probably still think about the loved one you lost often and may break down, but starting to work some normalcy into your life after a while is good for you.
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Build up more and more activities, once again slowly. Friends and family are important in this time, so start going out after a few weeks. Even if you’re still mourning inside, it’s all right to go out and have some fun. Your loved one wouldn’t want you to throw your whole life away because he’s gone. Go back to work, play with your cats and start living your life again slowly but surely.
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Know that after some time has passed, you'll find that you're back to living. This will often be unexpected, but it's the natural progression of mourning. You'll still think about the one you lost, but it won't stop you from living anymore. Instead of breaking down into tears, you’ll find yourself smiling at something that reminds you of your loved one. She will always be with you in spirit and live on in your memories.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't use alcohol or other outside substances to mask your grief—please see a grief counselor if this happens.
