Whether you are grieving for the loss of a loved one, pet, or even a life situation, such as retirement or moving house, it is crucial to know how best to manage your grief in order to look after yourself during this difficult time. This guide will discuss what to look for when experiencing grief, how you can find the appropriate help for you, and what you can do it ease the grieving process.
What are the symptoms of grief?
Grief is commonly known to have five stages, each with their different symptoms. These are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Although you may not experience all of these stages, these are important measures of your journey and allow you to determine what help you should seek. If grief is having a negative effect on your mental health that is separate from the grieving process, such as giving you depression or complicated grief, anxiety, or PTSD that is affecting your daily life, you need to make an appointment with your GP. You should also check for signs of grief that include fatigue and insomnia, weight loss or gain, nausea and pain, and a lowered immune system. These physical symptoms can all be alleviated by seeking medical help from a professional.
What professional help should you seek?
If you are experiencing grief, and this is affecting your everyday functioning, you should make an appointment with your local doctor or GP. They will be able to prescribe you with any medication that may help you through the grieving process, such as sleeping tablets, and can direct you towards the help that will aid your individual experience the most.
If grief is causing trauma-related addiction or drug and alcohol misuse, you should consider finding specialist rehab treatment that works especially with those who are suffering from grief and other trauma-related issues. For instance, Apex Rehab runs trauma focused therapy courses that help you to find solutions through methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy and other research-based practices.
You should also think about the benefits of practices such as counseling, which allow you to discuss your grief with an unbiased third party that is distanced from your life. They will be able to provide you with ways of managing your grief as well as discussing any underlying issues beneath your emotions.
How important is looking after your body?
When you are going through grief, it is also important to remember to look after your body through exercise and healthy eating. Although grief and trauma-related illnesses such as depression can make it difficult to care for yourself, eating the right foods and leading a healthy lifestyle can help to boost your mood and immune system. This can help your grief to become more manageable.
How can you reach out?
If possible, you should also try to reach out to family and friends in order to support each other. This can help you to process your grief and stop any denial that you may feel. For instance, you could hold events such as a celebration of life to acknowledge a deceased person’s life and the impact they had on their loved ones. You could also celebrate their life by contributing to their favorite charity or creating a memorial garden with help from your family in their honor.
