In Times of Grief
Grief is a journey you must endure after the loss of a loved one. It's easy to become overwhelmed as you work through the phases and tasks of grief, so it's important to remember to care for yourself. Here are nine tips, collected from people who have journeyed this road before you.
You cannot travel this path alone. You need the support and care of others. Call on a trusted family member or friend, church clergy, or professional counselors. Call your local hospice agency or community grief center for advice to get you started.
Don't try to run and hide from your grief. You need to experience the pain and sorrow to be able to move past it and on towards healing.
You are not the first to travel the road of grief. Discover how others have coped with loss before you. This will provide you with a model to base your own healing on and remind you that you are not alone.
The more you know about grief and dispel the myths surrounding it, the more you will realize that your grief is normal. You may also discover warning signs that your grief may be difficult and that you need more help to cope. Either way, knowledge is power.
The best way to work through grief is to let it out. Cry, scream, and yell if need to. Express your feelings through music, art, poetry, or journaling. Whether you express your grief with a person you trust or let it out in compete privacy, expressing your feelings is the only way to honor your grief and begin to work through it.
Grief can surface many different feelings...some very intense. Acknowledge these feelings and accept them as part of the natural grieving process. Don't hold in anger, sadness, or longing. These are important feelings that, once expressed, help you heal.
Getting involved in work or some other activity you enjoy can keep you focused and offer a welcome distraction from your grief.
Sometimes grieving people won't allow themselves to have any fun...as if sharing a laugh with someone is somehow dishonoring the memory of their loved one. The truth is laughter is excellent medicine! A great way to have some genuine fun is to surround yourself with children or animals.
Remember that intense grief doesn't last forever. One of my favorite sayings goes "Faith is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to go on when fear is present." Keep the faith that you will one day heal and be whole again.
For additional information concerning grief support for children and teens, please visit the Oak Tree Corner website. Oak Tree Corner serves the Dayton, Ohio area and provides a safe and caring community where children and teens can learn to deal with the grief from the death of someone important