The loss of a loved one is a pain like no other. It can feel like you have lost a part of yourself and things will never be the same again. You might feel like you simply cannot cope; you cannot go on without them and you cannot go on feeling the grief you feel, but you can get through this.

 

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy and you will never forget, but it is possible to get through it and start getting back on track. Here are a few things that will help:

 

Take part in the rituals of death

 

You might not feel much like getting involved with organizing the funeral service or attending the wake, but we have these rituals around death for a reason. They help us to come to terms switch the loss, find closure, and spend time around other loved ones who understand the loss in a way the wider world, who did not know your loved one, simply cannot.

 

Feel what you feel

 

There is no point trying to push down your feelings of grief, sadness, anger or whatever else you might be feeling right now. Sure, you might be able to get by doing that for a little while, but pretty soon it will all build up and knock you out with the depth of feeling. If you bottle these things up, they only get worse and grow until you explode and things will be much worse when that happens. So, feel what you feel without shame. Let yourself grieve in whatever way you need to.

 

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Talk to someone

 

In a similar vein, it is probably a good idea to share how you are feeling with someone else instead of trying to deal with it alone. A close friend or family member can be a good shoulder to try on, but if you are a more private person or your feelings surrounding the death are more complex, then it might be worth speaking to a professional grief counselor who can help you work through your emotions in a non-judgemental way, instead.

 

Remember the good times

 

Instead of focusing on the death of your loved one, try to focus on all the good times you had together, what good a person they were and what they meant to you. This will not always prevent you from getting upset, but it will help you to be more positive about life overall, which will help you to cope better in the end.

 

Make memories

 

Do a charity run to raise money for a charity close to your loved one’s heart, paint a picture of them, plant a tree in their memory – make positive memories and start to heal.

 

When you lose a loved one, it is important that you treat yourself with care and kindness and that you take things at your own pace. There is no right or wrong way to get through your grief, but the above will surely help you to cope with a little more ease.