You believe in the five stages of grief, you understand that when someone dies they’re in a better place and out of pain, and you’ve always been comforted by the fact that the memories you shared with someone who passed away are forever.
However, when you lose someone close to you, it can feel like everything you thought you knew about grief is completely irrelevant.
Understanding how to deal with the death of a loved one is a painful, nonlinear process that’s filled with a wide range of conflicting emotions.
It’s easy to feel like you just can’t cope with the loss of a loved one.
This post won’t take away all your sadness, but it will help you come to terms with your grief.
Stop Judging Yourself
Remember that everyone responds to the death of a loved one differently.
Stop comparing yourself to the other people grieving the death, and don’t try to make someone else’s grieving process work for you. Don’t feel guilty for enjoying things in your life or laughing at a funny joke. You don’t have to wallow in misery at all times.
Never put a “timeline” on dealing with loss.
While we all wish we could get over grief quickly, the truth is that if you move on too quickly, you end up not ever dealing with the emotions.
Trust us when we tell you that your sadness and anger will come back in full force — and in other aspects of your life — sooner rather than later.
Just like you have to accept the death of your loved one, you also have to accept the pain and twists and turns that come with the grieving process.
Plan a Proper Celebration of Their Life
It’s true that part of understanding how to deal with the death of a loved one is to embrace the act of keeping yourself busy.
You can begin by deciding what to do when it comes to planning their memorial service.
Consider the ways in which you can incorporate some of their favorite music into the ceremony. Decide who should deliver the eulogy. Ask friends and family members to bring photos of them spending time with your loved one through the years. Even serve up some of their favorite food.
You can also think about the ways in which you’ll continue to pay tribute to their life on future anniversaries of their death. After all, you’ll want to keep their memory alive.
There’s No Rulebook on How to Deal with the Death of a Loved One
Above all, remember that there’s no one set way to learn how to deal with the death of a loved one.
Grief is often a lifelong journey.
While you’ll always miss the person and wish they were still with you, the agony that you feel now isn’t going to last forever.
Need more advice about how to take care of yourself in the midst of grief?
Keep reading our blog posts to pick up more tips you can use on your journey of healing.
