How to Care for Yourself While Grieving
Everyone has to deal with grief at some point in their lives. We all experience loss. While grief can impact people differently, it’s important to move through the stages of it in healthy, effective ways, so you can eventually start the next chapter of your life.
While dealing with grief is never easy, one problem so many people face is taking care of themselves while they’re going through it. You might find it difficult to think about self-care while dealing with an impactful loss, but doing so will help you find peace and improve the overall healing process.
Let’s take a closer look at a few ways you can care for yourself while grieving, so you can continue to move forward and eventually feel whole again.
Let Yourself Feel
One of the biggest mistakes people make while grieving is trying to “shove” their emotions down. Maybe you think you’re too busy to really deal with them. Or, maybe you’re trying to ignore them simply so you can cope. Allow yourself to feel your feelings. Emotions will always demand to be felt. The longer you try to push them down, the stronger they’ll eventually become. Though you might be struggling with pain and sadness, it’s okay to let those emotions out. Be kind to yourself, no matter what you’re feeling, and don’t let your own thoughts create even more emotional harm.
Take Care of Your Physical Needs
It’s easy to ignore your physical needs and wants when your mind is consumed with grief. However, taking care of your physical needs is necessary if you want to experience emotional peace. Prioritize sleep. If your thoughts keep you awake each night, consider changing your sleep routine to find ways to ease you into a peaceful, comfortable sleep. Try meditating before bed, and stop using electronics for at least an hour before you decide to get some rest.
Additionally, make sure you’re fueling your body the right way. Even if the idea of food doesn’t sound appetizing right now, eating nutritious, healthy meals will keep your energy up and make it easier to stay focused each day.
Finally, don’t hesitate to stay active. Exercise is a great way to take care of yourself and boost your serotonin and find some happiness and energy. That doesn’t mean you need to go to the gym or run five miles each day. Take a walk around the neighborhood or do an activity you enjoy, like dancing. By trying some new physical activities, you might even discover a new hobby you enjoy. That can help to serve as a healthy distraction and provide you with something to look forward to.
Talk to Someone
Once you’ve accepted your emotions and you’re starting to take care of your physical needs, don’t hesitate to express your emotional needs to someone else.
As stated above, everyone goes through a period of grief at some point. While it can be lonely and isolating, it’s important to know you’re not alone in your feelings. Lean on your support system. Talk to the people in your life that you trust, and let them be an outlet for you to speak up about your feelings.
Going through the stages of grief on your own isn’t always easy. Sometimes, you might feel “stuck,” and you shouldn’t be expected to pull yourself out. Reaching out to a therapist is a great way to take that first step out of the pit, so you can work through your emotions and find healthy, effective ways to move forward. If you’re really struggling, you might even want to consider working with a mental health professional.
Wellness Matters has therapists who focus on working with people who are grieving. Sandra grew up inn rural North Dakota and has devoted her life to working with people of all ages. Her faith-based background enhances her perspective on and effectiveness with grief work. Working with Sandra on understanding grief and managing its ripple effect on our lives has helped so many. Sandra has immediate openings and online options and she is available to work with you today!
Feel free to contact Wellness Matters to set up an appointment. You can connect with the Wellness Matters Intake Coordinator by texting or calling 218-616-1276.
At Wellness Matters, the intake process is all on-line. On-line appointments make it possible to attend appointments from the comfort from your home or office. In-person services may also be available for people living in northern MN.
