Losing someone you love to a negligent or careless act is devastating. As a result, it can be difficult to deal with the grieving process after such a loss, especially when the person was an immediate family member, such as a spouse or a child. The Mayo Clinic offers the following advice on how to best cope with grief after a personal loss. The first step is to accept that the grieving process is completely normal.
Grief is characterized by an intense range of emotions. Along with the expected sadness, a person may also be beset by anger, frustration, guilt, rage, denial, or even a feeling of numbness. There is no wrong way to experience grief, and no emotion should be looked at shamefully. Accept your emotions for what they are and don’t try to deny or dismiss them. This can actually make the grieving process more difficult to navigate.
Grief also takes a physical toll on a person’s health. You may feel hopelessly fatigued and unable to complete even the simplest of tasks. You might also experience a lack of appetite or stomach upset, problems sleeping, and general malaise. Make sure you take proper care of yourself at this time by getting enough rest, eating right, and staying in touch with friends and family.
It can be hard to reach out to others when you need them. Social support is a must during the grieving process, however, even if it just gets your mind off things for a few hours. Along with friends and family, you can also look to support groups to meet people who’ve experienced something similar. Support groups allow you to vent your feelings while also providing healthy coping mechanisms on how to deal with grief.