NAVIGATING GRIEF

Grief includes the entire emotional process of dealing with a loss. It is normal, and it is different for everyone. The process involves many different emotions and expressions. It’s important for you to be patient and kind with yourself if you are working through your grief.

Psychotherapist and author Judy Tatelbaum, MSW, shares tips for coping with a loss through the National Hospice Foundation (hospicefoundation.org):

Keep busy. You cannot dwell on your sorrow or your loss every waking moment. In the first flush of grief, you may feel you cannot control the extent of your suffering. But friends, activities, and other support can help to form a lifeline that gets you through the pain.

Keep a journal. Some feelings may be too hard to speak aloud, like anger or regret. Journal writing can serve as a release as well as a meaningful expression of yourself, and allows a private way to work through the many emotions experienced during the journey of grief.

Take care of yourself. Move your body. Walking, dancing, swimming, or whatever activity pleases you, can help you feel better. Through exercise, you build your physical strength, release tension, enliven yourself, and keep yourself well. As much as you can, eat well-balanced meals and get an adequate amount of sleep.