Dealing With Bereavement

May 07, 2022 | Ebru Yildirim

Many factors will influence your feelings when someone close to you passes away. This could include your relationship with the person, what happened before they died, and the support you received. Your personality, cultural background, and any religious beliefs you hold are all likely to influence your feelings. It's crucial to understand that normal varies from person to person. These are some of the various reactions that people have told us about. There are plenty more, and your experience may be unique. The important thing is to accept that having these feelings is normal. When someone we love passes away, we all try to learn to live with the grief that comes with it. Feelings of Shock You may have thought you were prepared because the person's death was expected or because you'd lost someone you care about before. However, regardless of the circumstances, it is very common to experience initial shock. A Sense of Numbness For the first six months or so after a loved one passes away, you may feel as if you are living in a fog. You might be numb or worried because you haven't cried yet. One of the things that helps us cope with very intense and distressing emotions is feeling numb. The numbness will gradually fade away, and you will begin to emerge from the fog. Being Overwhelmed You might find that the full force of your grief hits you immediately, and you cry a lot every day. You may have expected to grieve deeply and accept your feelings in this way. Alternatively, you may discover that these feelings are unexpected. You might even be angry at yourself for feeling this way. You may feel overburdened and concerned that you are unable to cope and be concerned that your grief is so overwhelming that you don't know how you'll cope. However, as time passes, your feelings of grief and loss become less intense, and you learn to live with them. Unexpected Relief When someone you care about dies, you may feel relieved, especially if it has been a long illness, the person has been suffering, or you have been the primary caregiver. You may feel guilty for feeling relieved if you feel this way. However, relief is a natural reaction that you should not feel guilty about. It doesn't make you a bad person or mean you didn't love and care for them. Anger Response When you're grieving, it's natural to feel angry. Your rage could be directed at a variety of things, including the fact that your loved one died before their time, events that occurred or did not occur before they died, or the fact that they are no longer alive. You may be enraged by circumstances, others, or even yourself. You could be angry for any or all of these reasons, or for something entirely different. These are perfectly normal emotions. How to Deal With Bereavement? A death can be overwhelming, and you may experience a range of emotions. There are things you can do to cope with your loss and people who can support you during this difficult time. The type of relationship you had with your friend or family, how you typically deal with emotional problems, and the support you have around you are all factors that affect grief. Because of these differences, we all deal in different ways, and some things will help you more than others. However, there are a few things you can do to help yourself cope. Take One Day at a Time Concentrating on one day at a time can help you cope with your emotions and complete the simple daily tasks you need to complete. Keeping busy or taking a break You may find that staying busy and participating in various activities helps. Try to do things even if you don't feel like it if this works for you. Alternatively, you may discover that you need to take things more slowly and schedule time away from your regular activities. You must do whatever is most convenient for you. Recognize What you are Feeling Many of the emotions you might experience while grieving have physical manifestations. When you are stressed, your heart rate may increase. When you're angry, your jaw may clench. Physical symptoms can sometimes be a way of assisting you in recognizing your own emotions. You simply need to make space to feel those emotions when you notice them, which will help you cope with them. Getting Away from Home Getting out of the house not only gives you some exercise, but it can also help you think differently. Even if you're not ready to engage with them, seeing other people out and about can be comforting, especially if you're lonely. Taking care of your physical health Getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet can help you cope with the various emotions you're experiencing. Get Support It's beneficial to have support from family and friends, as well as from others, such as a support group. This is because the people who will be there for you in the long run are your friends and family. Talk about your emotions. While talking with family or close friends may be sufficient, dedicated bereavement support or life coaching, either one-on-one or in a group, may also be beneficial.