Grief is a very powerful emotion and unique for each person, but the following suggestions have been helpful to many.
- Give Yourself Permission To Grieve
When you lose a loved one you need time to mourn the loss. Many people think they should “get over it” and move on, but mourning takes time and is the start of the healing process. It is important to allow yourself this time.
- Talk About Your Grief
Many people find it helpful to seek out trusted friends to share the grief. Keeping your feelings inside will not make them go away. If friends are critical or offer well intentioned but unhelpful advice, you may want to seek out a support group.
- Expect Confusion
Mourning often brings a multitude of feelings. Anger, fear, guilt and disorganization are all a part of the normal grief process. When so many emotions strike at once, we think something is wrong with us and wonder if we will ever move beyond grief. It is important to know that many of these feelings will diminish in time.
- Take Care of Yourself
Grief takes a toll on our physical and mental well being. It is not uncommon to have feelings of exhaustion, lower resistance to illnesses or sleepless nights. This is the body’s way of telling you to slow down and take care of yourself.
Hospice Grief Support
For more than 30 years, Hospice of the Bluegrass has been meeting the needs of those coping with loss. Individual counseling, support groups and grief education are offered by each of our offices. Call (859) 277-2700 for more information.
