It doesn’t matter if it’s a close friend or a family member, losing someone you love can be
one of the most
painful things to go through. It might be hard to imagine every feeling okay
again. You might not feel the same ever again. It might be a pain that you can never fully
heal. Over time, you can learn to cope with it. Everyone’s experience of losing a loved
one
will be different and the way you cope will be different. This means the same coping
strategies might not work for everyone. You could try and see what works for you. These
might help:
Let yourself feel. The grieving process is painful. You’ll exper
ience a world of emotions. Let
yourself feel as they come. You might want to fight your feelings and be strong for those
around you. This is okay. You can be strong and still feel. Make sure you give yourself the
time and space to sit with your emotions. T
his will only make you stronger.
Remember grief looks different for everyone. The death of a loved one impacts people
differently. Your grieving process might not look the same as someone else’s. Remind
yourself of this. Various emotions might affect you
at unexpected points during your grieving
process. If this happens, be open to it, and don’t get frustrated with yourself.
Find support.
Reach out to some you can trust. It could be a friend, family, or a therapist. If
you feel comfortable, tell them wh
at you are going through. Make sure that they’re a good
listener. This is a hard time, and it will only be harder if you try to deal with it alone. There is
no shame in getting support
-
it takes courage to share what you are facing.
Take care of yourself. When we are stressed, it is easy to neglect our minds and bodies.
Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating well, and giving yourself a chance to relax.
It’s important
-
especially now
-
do things that make you feel good. You don’t have to feel
hap
py but make yourself feel comfortable and cared for. It can be something as simple as
reading a good book. Whatever it is, just make sure you create time for it. As hard as it might
be, stay positive. Look for silver linings wherever you can find them. Eve
n the smallest
amount of hope can go a long way
Change your perspective and uncover a way forward for you!
Here are some things that can help you with that.
YouTube
Great
reads
Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief
by Joanne Cacciatore
If you love, you will grieve—and nothing is more mysteriously central to becoming fully human.
Modern Loss by Gabrielle Birkner and Rebecca Soffer
This book is a fresh and irreverent examination into navigating grief and resilience in the age of social media, offering comfort and community for coping with the mess of loss.
It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand
Book by Megan Devine
When a painful loss or life-shattering event upends your world, here is the first thing to know: there is nothing wrong with grief.
Great
Films
Coco
Miguel pursues his love for singing in spite of his family's ban on music. He stumbles into the Land of the Dead, where he learns about his great-great-grandfather who was a legendary singer.
Blended
Not about loss. But a cute feel good movie. After a terrible blind date, Jim and Lauren find themselves stranded at a resort together with their respective children. However, the two soon start developing feelings for each other.
Big Hero 6
Hiro, a robotics prodigy, joins hands with Baymax in order to avenge his brother's death. They then team up with Hiro's friends to form a team of high-tech heroes.
Spotify
This playlist will make things a little bit better, even just for a moment.
Podcasts
Grief Out Loud
Grief Out Loud is opening up this often avoided conversation because grief is hard enough without having to go through it alone.
What's Your Grief Podcast
This podcast seeks to leave no stone unturned in demystifying the complicated and sometimes crazy experience of living life after loss.
The Grief Coach
Brooke has created a space she needed but could not find—one that respects profound loss and the practicality of needing to make decisions in heartbreak.
Places to find more resources
Would you like to get inspired about your life?
Join a Highway session today.
If you would like to explore what’s going on for you today, then just jump on! You will be welcomed to a safe, warm, non-judgemental space where you can be yourself and uncover what is important to you. You have all the answers. Let us help you find your way.
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