Self-Care for the Bereaved
As you struggle with your loss, remember that in addition to talking with a qualified professional, it is important to take good care of yourself. The following are some areas you can tend to:
R-n-R - Grief can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Now is when you may need some extra rest, relaxation and nourishment. Take a hot bath, read a good book, or take an afternoon nap. Try to get some light exercise, like a walk or bike ride in your favorite park or neighborhood. If you are one of the many who forgets to eat or loses their appetite when grieving, try to eat: your body and brain won’t function without food.
Time – Be patient with yourself, and don’t put pressure on yourself to hurry the process. This will take a while – weeks, months and years, depending on your circumstances. Try to give yourself some time alone, as well as some time with others who can listen to you, or distract you, whichever you prefer. The depth of your pain and the enormity of your loss can be overwhelming - please try to take life one day at a time.
Reach out – You may have many other stressors to deal with now in addition to the loss itself: financial, legal, or familial. Try to reduce the weight of these by reaching out to people you can trust to help you as you get back on your feet. You don’t have to do this alone.
Peers – People often find some hope and comfort from being around others who’ve experienced a loss. It offers the chance to learn tips from others who’ve been through it before you, see how others have survived the chaos, and find solace in a kindred spirit who knows what you’re going through and can listen to you when you need a shoulder.
Goals – For a time, you will feel aimless and lost, with no sense of what the future holds for you. This is very common. When this happens, setting small, achievable goals for yourself can help ease the discomfort: to take some time for self-care every day, to meet up with your best friend once a week for coffee or a movie night, or to plan a hike with a friend. As you begin to feel more grounded, you can focus on those longer-term goals that were disrupted by the loss, and you may want guidance or counseling to help.
Small pleasures – It may take a while before you’ll want to smile again, or even be able to, and engaging in things you used to love may not be as much fun as before... at first. It could be a piece of chocolate, a hug from a child, a walk with your dog, or a sitcom you used to watch. All of these small pleasures will add up and help re-balance the neurotransmitters in your brain. Give it time and keep up the self-care nevertheless, as it will eventually help ease the pain.
R-n-R - Grief can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Now is when you may need some extra rest, relaxation and nourishment. Take a hot bath, read a good book, or take an afternoon nap. Try to get some light exercise, like a walk or bike ride in your favorite park or neighborhood. If you are one of the many who forgets to eat or loses their appetite when grieving, try to eat: your body and brain won’t function without food.
Time – Be patient with yourself, and don’t put pressure on yourself to hurry the process. This will take a while – weeks, months and years, depending on your circumstances. Try to give yourself some time alone, as well as some time with others who can listen to you, or distract you, whichever you prefer. The depth of your pain and the enormity of your loss can be overwhelming - please try to take life one day at a time.
Reach out – You may have many other stressors to deal with now in addition to the loss itself: financial, legal, or familial. Try to reduce the weight of these by reaching out to people you can trust to help you as you get back on your feet. You don’t have to do this alone.
Peers – People often find some hope and comfort from being around others who’ve experienced a loss. It offers the chance to learn tips from others who’ve been through it before you, see how others have survived the chaos, and find solace in a kindred spirit who knows what you’re going through and can listen to you when you need a shoulder.
Goals – For a time, you will feel aimless and lost, with no sense of what the future holds for you. This is very common. When this happens, setting small, achievable goals for yourself can help ease the discomfort: to take some time for self-care every day, to meet up with your best friend once a week for coffee or a movie night, or to plan a hike with a friend. As you begin to feel more grounded, you can focus on those longer-term goals that were disrupted by the loss, and you may want guidance or counseling to help.
Small pleasures – It may take a while before you’ll want to smile again, or even be able to, and engaging in things you used to love may not be as much fun as before... at first. It could be a piece of chocolate, a hug from a child, a walk with your dog, or a sitcom you used to watch. All of these small pleasures will add up and help re-balance the neurotransmitters in your brain. Give it time and keep up the self-care nevertheless, as it will eventually help ease the pain.