Coping with Grief

We’ve just come through one of the most challenging times in our lifetime, and it may not even be over. The age of Covid has been devastating to everyone one way or another. Some of us have lost jobs, while many of us have lost loved ones. No matter how you slice it, we have all suffered loss during this period in time. We are all grieving in one way or another.

Grief can be difficult, obviously sad, but it is also healing. We need to grieve what we have lost so we can move forward, and so we can appreciate that which we have lost.

It can be easy to get stuck in the sadness that is grief, and that is no way to live either. We need to move through grief and find the joy that is waiting on the other side. Covid may have changed us as individuals, as a nation, even as a species – but we’re resilient and with these tips for coping with grief we can come through and shine again.

Talk to Someone – Talk to a friend or therapist about your loss. If you’ve lost a spouse or significant person in your life, it’s okay to talk about them when with other people. They might have refrained from talking about the person out of respect for you – they didn’t want to upset you – so talk about the person, if you like, and let others know it’s okay. Share memories about the person you lost, it helps to keep their spirit alive.

Avoid Retail Therapy – This time of year it is so easy to overspend. There’s a sale going on in every store and everything looks so good all packaged up with a bow. It might feel like a good idea now, but when the bills come, you’ll feel even worse. Don’t use your credit card as a means to cope with your grief. If you miss shopping for a loved one who is gone, consider donating to a shelter or Toys for Tots in their name. You’ll make someone happy and pay tribute to your loved one at the same time.

Journal – I’m a big advocate for writing your feelings down. Such a simple task can be so healing and cathartic. Write in a journal, notebook, maybe start a blog? However, you do it, getting your feelings out on paper is incredibly therapeutic, and I highly recommend it.

Go Easy on the Alcohol – A drink or two here and there won’t hurt, but try to refrain from using alcohol, or other substances, as a means of coping with your grief. It might make things feel better in the immediate short term, but in the not too distance future it will make things more difficult.

Give Yourself Permission – Whatever it is that you feel you need permission to do, grant it to yourself. If you don’t want to go to the holiday party – don’t. If you want to spend a weekend on the couch watching horror movies and eating from a tube of cookie dough – go for it. Do what you need to do to nurture yourself through this very difficult time.