5 Ways to Deal With Your Grief - Our Guide

Grief is often a complicated process that not many people know how to deal with since it comes in many forms. Loss is difficult, and there’s no single correct way to cope with it, although people are often left feeling confused about the best way to process such complex emotions. They may feel like they’re not allowed to be happy if they lose a loved one or that they aren’t worthy of their dreams when losing a job or experiencing any kind of loss.

The grieving process varies for everyone, so it is crucial to find what works best for you. With a proper support system, you’ll be able to start healing from your loss and work through your pain. Here are five ways to deal with your grief:

1. Allow Yourself to Grieve

Many people don’t realize that they didn’t give themselves permission to grieve as they believe it to be a sign of selfishness, weakness, or the inability to accept what has happened and move on. However, emotions—both positive and negative—are part of the human experience, and it is vital to work through them as they come. Additionally, grieving is an essential part of saying goodbye to a loved one who has passed away. Allowing yourself to grieve, cry, and mourn the loss will help you feel better and remove the pressure of needing to be composed all the time. An online therapist in Guelph can also help you get started if you have trouble with it.

2. Set Feasible Goals

Setting goals is a great way to create a concrete destination for any journey, including the grieving process. Grief typically involves many different life changes for people, and reorienting yourself to your new life without the people or opportunities lost will help you move on more productively. It’s crucial to set feasible goals to avoid overwhelming yourself and help you celebrate every victory you make.

3. Write It Out

Writing down your feelings is a compelling way to process them, which is why many therapists recommend journaling or writing a letter when dealing with grief. You can write a letter to the deceased to talk about your life after losing them and what you plan to do as you heal. Alternatively, you can write in a journal where you’re essentially writing a letter to yourself, talking about how you feel, the kind of person you want to become, and every thought that enters your mind. With a safe space to put all these thoughts and feelings into, you’ll feel lighter after every writing session.

4. Read About Grief

Sometimes, reading about other people’s journey through grief gives you another perspective about the process. It is also a comforting reminder that you are not alone and othershave experienced what you did. It tells you that one person’s grieving process is often different from another’s, which means that everything you’re going through is valid. By exploring other people’s accounts of their grief, you’ll have the insight you need to process yours. For example, some people have tried video counselling to look for support during the pandemic, while others have opted for art therapy to express their feelings. What’s important is that you recognize your unique way of grieving and that you honour it.

5. Try the Empty Chair Technique

The empty chair technique is popularly used in therapy and consists of sitting in front of an empty chair and imagining that someone else is seated in it. If you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, imagine that person sitting in front of you. Then, speak to them and talk about what you’ve been feeling. You can express the full range of emotions you’re feeling, from sadness to guilt to rage to love. It will help you release the feelings you weren’t able to express to them, bringing you closer to resolving any unfinished business you had with them.

Conclusion

Grief often manifests itself differently for everyone, making it one of the most complicated processes to work through and heal from. However, by exploring different ways of grieving, you’ll be on the way to healing from the pain with a renewed outlook on life.

Chettiar Counselling & Associates offers grief counselling in Waterloo, providing a judgement-free safe space for patients to work through their trauma and loss. Our therapists support a wide range of issues such as anxiety, anger management, relationship issues, eating disorders, fertility challenges, and more. Contact us to learn more about our counselling services.