Dealing with the death or disconnection of a loved one is a hard pill to swallow. Although it’s a part of life, it does not mean that it’s any less painful. People will often make excuses for it happening, but that’s typically a part of the process of grief. The difference between grief and bereavement is that grief is the reaction to said loss, while bereavement is the process of loss. They’re both pretty much synonymous for one another, and they typically go hand in hand. The feelings that often come with grief can be difficult to cope with. This is why I’m going to be listing the 10 amazing ways you can deal with bereavement. Just be aware that you can only do some much to avoid survivor’s guilt, complex grief, or any other feeling.
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This state of grief can cause all sorts of negative feelings, and it is typically associated with the “5 stages of grief.” It can be because you divorced, and now they’re no longer in your life. However, the main association with bereavement is death, and with this comes a flood of negative emotions. You may start out in denial, where you can’t accept the fact that this is happening. This leads to you telling yourself that something isn’t happening, and this can lead to anger. The frustration with the situation may lead you to bargain with the truth to change things. This can then lead to depression because of you finally coming to terms with the facts you dislike. And finally, this will lead to full acceptance of a situation where you may finally accept the negative truth and learn to be okay with it.
10 Amazing Ways to Deal With Bereavement
1. Give it Time
When someone you love dies, it’s hard no matter what you try to do. There are ways to cope, but no matter what you do, it’s going to take time for it to go away. Even if you try to hide it, it’s going to be there no matter what. There may even be stages of denial and regret you go through, just because everything seems bleak. These feelings of guilt should be listened to, but they should also be reconsidered. However, I’m not going to tell you that it does not suck or that it will be easy, because it won’t.
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You don’t want to be bogged down by a feeling of constant negativity. This will only do you more harm than good, and it does nothing but make you more miserable for it. See, there’s no guilt in taking your time, so don’t feel in a rush. There’s also no need to make it last forever, because it’s not going to feel good wasting time. Just be sure to go in with decent expectations without being too hard on yourself. Things are going to change at some point, so as tough as it seems, you can get by just fine.
10 Amazing Ways to Deal With Bereavement
2. Talk With Someone
There’s no better way to get over something as painful as grief than talking it out with someone. It’s a great therapy that benefits everyone involved, and it does not have to come at a cost. The catharsis can come in the form of getting out the emotions that have held you back for so long. You can start realizing that it does not have to be so bad, and you can regain yourself and start a new. This does not mean that the person is lost, it just means that you can take the grief and turn it into something better.
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Not only is it good for you, it’s good for everyone involved and in more than one way. You never know what others are dealing with. If their talk can help you, it’s probably because they’ve been through something, and it can give them therapy in return. You can get outside of your head and get a new perspective. This is a great start to get yourself feeling better and turning your memories into something more positive. It’s really not as hard as it sounds, and you never know how a new idea may effect you.
10 Amazing Ways to Deal With Bereavement
3. Think Positive
Yeah, while it may seem like vapid advice, at least it’s a start. Staying positive can be a challenge, but it does not mean that it’s not possible. It’s always about trying to keep your chin up, because no one but yourself is obligating you to be sad. This is a problem that many people struggle with, and it needs to be recognized. This is where you can start to take some time for yourself to think. As bad as it sounds, thinking is what completes your ability to deal with things, even if it’s painful. It does so by not allowing the underlying pain to reside inside for too long. Believe it or not, humor is a great way at taking care of this, and trust me, it works.
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This alone time can coincide with being around others so that you can fully come to accept the negative feelings you’re dealing with. This positive thinking skill can help turn into better coping mechanisms for further challenges down the road. It’s also what can come naturally the more you get used to it. So, just try to be aware that the good times are coming, and try to make them arrive even faster. You’re going to learn to feel better about yourself and your emotions. Those feelings will soon be inevitably accepted, so it’s learned anyway. The same can be said for trying to humor yourself. You won’t believe what can happen from pain, so give it a try.
10 Amazing Ways to Deal With Bereavement
4. Stay Busy
Well, no kidding! There are plenty of things you can do to take some of the pain away. It’s not to say that it’ll all go away, but it can if you give it chance. Staying busy is a great break from keeping yourself in a dark place of despair. Of course, the hard part about it is doing it, and it’s easier said than done. It’s not like you can just get up and out, and everyone has their own challenges to face.
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The point is that you should make it a habit to keep yourself from going into a frenzy when thinking about death or separation. This is where you should start pursuing work or an activity that can keep your distracted. In a sense, you can use it to your advantage, and it can even come in handy at keeping you motivated. You simply have to get that engine revving, and before long, you’ll find yourself accomplishing a lot. And doing so without all of the negative things that held you back or motivated to begin with.
10 Amazing Ways to Deal With Bereavement
5. Go To Therapy
Yeah, if it weren’t obvious enough — going to therapy is a great way to get over death. Of course, it seems like something that someone would naturally do anyway. It’s also essentially the same as talking with a friend, but it still deserves it’s own spot on the list. This is because therapy is where you have your time taken seriously. You can go one on one, or you can go to group therapies that may even be free. There are out-patient options that are generally well-received and affordable. At these meetings, you can speak freely without worrying about any judgement.
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While it may come at a cost, depending on some things, it’s still a worthwhile option. If you feel like you need something more, there’s a good place to be in a therapeutic setting. Not only will you learn new ways to cope, you can talk head on about your problems in privacy. There’s a confidentiality policy in the therapeutic settings, so don’t worry about them letting others know unless you tell them to. This can help you release what you need without any strings attacked. Also, there’s generally no harm in crying while your therapist or counselor remaining professional.
10 Amazing Ways to Deal With Bereavement
6. Create Something
Being creative is a great outlet when dealing with the death of a loved one. Even if you’re just trying to survive after a breakup, a display of creativity is a good way to help. You can paint it out like Vincent, or you can write it out and play it on a guitar. You could also build something that reminds you of them and then branch out from there by making it a new hobby. Hey, it may even be that you should laugh it out or write a comedy routine. You may be surprised what the pain can bring you, and it can drive your creativity through the roof. You may have even gained something overall from it, too.
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Not only will you get some attention, you can make the most of your inspiration to get somewhere or make something new. Since I’m assuming that they loved you in return, you can commemorate your lost loved one by writing about or drawing them. You can give them the attention they deserve while giving yourself the help that you need. This is a good way to kill two birds with one stone and increase your artistic and technical output. This is something that can keep you going for a long, long time.
10 Amazing Ways to Deal With Bereavement
7. Fulfill Their Wishes
Depending on the circumstance, the person you love that is no longer here may have made a request. Maybe they told you to live your life to the fullest or to get out and do something. Maybe you figured it, they said it right before they died, or it’s something they mentioned a while ago. It does not matter, it’s just important to know that listening to them can help make the grief go away. These requests can be simple, or you can take it to heart and make something even better than they could’ve expected.
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If you loved them, you probably loved them for a reason, and they probably had something to say. Maybe there’s still something left to fulfill, and maybe there’s something you can do about it. There are ways to make sure that the memory of someone lives on in tangible ways. It’s not to say that you have to do anything, but you will probably feel better for it. If you already accomplished something, that’s great, but it’s no excuse to not do something else. There’s always more on the table, and the fight is never-ending.
10 Amazing Ways to Deal With Bereavement
8. Take Supplements
I’m aware that you’re probably thinking that supplements are on way too many lists on my site. Yeah, that may be, but that does not mean that they cannot help you. You may need to take something that helps with depression or gets you to sleep. The pain that comes from someone passing away comes with a lot of baggage, and it’s best to not carry any extra. This is why a little bit of a boost is nothing to feel guilty about, especially if you need it. This is where getting your sleep is important, because it’s important for recovery, inside and out.
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If you’re not on top of your psychological well-being, you may think that there’s nothing else to save. This is simply untrue, and it’s why you should take a supplement or even medication if you’re already on one. Just be sure to not neglect your health, because it’s not going to do you any good. While I don’t recommend medications, it may be the only option if you’re extremely depressed. Be aware that there are better options out there though, and there’s nothing better than finding the help you need.
10 Amazing Ways to Deal With Bereavement
9. Become More Mindful
Oh, mindfulness, when will you ever leave us be? Well, it’ll never leave, because it was never really there. This is a practice you should always be trying to improve. If you’re getting better at it, you may already be in the best place possible. Nothing can ever prepare you for how you’ll feel when someone you care for dies, and this is something to keep in mind. However, you can prepare yourself to deal with things better, by simply learning to be in a better state of mind.
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Don’t allow yourself to sulk in misery all of the time, when you could be improving your state of mind. You see, no one is forcing you to be miserable but yourself, and this is the best way to look at it. Even though it’s not your fault, there’s nothing you can do but try to feel better than you are. If you don’t or don’t want to, that’s fine, but do you really want to feel this way? Take some time to meditate, pray, and walk every day to keep your priorities in check. You’ll start realizing that it was an investment worth making.
10 Amazing Ways to Deal With Bereavement
10. Take Care of Yourself
This comes down to exercising and maintaining yourself. Maybe even If you’re down in the dumps because someone is no longer here, it helps to have concern for your health. This is without a doubt what the person wanted, and in a way, taking care of yourself is doing the same for them. You can vicariously help yourself through them, and it’s a great way to stay motivated. There should be no strings attached, because at least you’re doing something for them. However, there’s no shame it understanding that life is a downer. Just be sure to learn from it by getting back up and doing something about it.
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Keeping yourself mentally sound, at work, healthy, and active are extremely important. Don’t allow someone’s passing leave you desperate and clinging to the past for more. This is by no means an excuse, and thus, it should be treated this way. Make sure to get out and exercise, eat healthy, and get those hormones in the right place. Not only will it give you a sense of accomplishment, it’ll make those still around you proud as well. Remember, it’s not just about loathing a person’s demise, it’s about staying well for yourself and others around you. There’s still plenty left to do here, so be sure you’re here for the best of it.
Final Thoughts: The 10 Amazing Ways to Deal With Bereavement
There is a way out of bereavement and grief, you’ve just got to be willing to take the steps to escape it. Even if you feel like there’s no way out or you don’t deserve it, you certainly can release yourself from it. It may take some steps, and it’s never easy, but there are plenty of ways to ease your journey through it. This is because it’s not just about them, it’s about you as well.
(Writing will improve as long as I continue to focus on the right things — quality or quantity. As long as I quit doing things so fast and last-minute, things will improve. I will learn to focus better without taking breaks before finishing a paragraph. I will also quit jumping from paragraph to paragraph before finishing any of them. I’m trying to do so much at once, that it ends up getting the best me, in spite of my writing skill.)