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Coping with grief
Coping with grief
It might help you cope with the emotional side of things to bear in mind the following points.
Grief is a shock
Even when death is expected it can still come as a shock. You may experience all sorts of different things, emotionally and physically. It is as if your mind and body need to adjust to what has happened. It takes time.
Grief is individual
Each person responds to loss in a different way. Some people feel angry, guilty or depressed which is normal, but there is no right or wrong way to grieve. You might be surprised by what you feel or by what you don’t feel.
Grief is normal
Grief is a natural process. It serves its purpose, taking us forward to a new phase in our lives. It is not easy and you can only arrive at the end of the process by going through it. However you can get there – eventually.
Grief is for everyone
When someone dies, all members of the family will have a need to grieve. This is as true for children as it is for adults. Do try to be as open and honest with them as you can and include them in your plans.
Grief is a challenge
Grief can be difficult and troubling, a real challenge to our ability to cope. Nevertheless, most people have reserves of inner strength. We hope that you are able to discover and tap into yours. Other people - friends and family - can be a useful source of strength as well.
Grief need not last forever
There is a sense in which life can never be the same again. Of course it can’t be. Nevertheless, most people eventually do manage to invest something of themselves in life again. We hope that you too will find this kind of courage.
Grief can be helped
Finding ways to remember our loved ones and to share our feelings with others might not be easy. Yet this usually helps, if we can find the right person to talk to. We hope that you will feel you can talk to us.
