The opportunity to help others deal with grief and loss can be challenging for many reasons. Mainly, it’s hard to fully understand where others are coming from- people experience grief and loss differently from one another. Knowing there are strategies that reach out to people of all types is certainly reassuring.
Make Time for Grief and Loss
A planned mourning period can help pull back the layers of grief and loss without getting lost in them. Make no mistake about it: mourning is an important process when people lose something or someone close to them. Setting times and planning for places to mourn can be pivotal. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to make time for grief and loss. Those individuals who experience grief and loss should consider re-evaluating, or creating, a time table of events with a strict cut-off. The inevitable step back into the real world can become easier.
Find Out and Consider New Hobbies
Experiencing grief and loss happens on a personalized scale. Our genetic make up allows us to experience a colorful array of emotions. Yet, they differ from person to person and can be hard to handle when something unexpected happens. One way to help deter negative side effects is seeking out a new hobby. For those already with a hobby- for example, reading- they should consider trying a new hobby. Trying something new is connected to the malleability of our brains, and perhaps, offers a different type of therapeutic response to grief and loss.
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Get a Pet
Humans respond differently to interactions with others. Some people find comfort in knowing they have a vast majority of friends and clicks to turn to in a time of need. Others enjoy solitude, personal reflection, and more time for themselves. No matter what, though, the power of a relationship to an animal when dealing with grief and loss is unparalleled. Pets give us “uncomplicated love,” and give us more opportunities to go outside and seek new activities. Even owning a fish can empower and individual and lift them from a grief induced lull in life.
Find Others With Similar Experiences
There is comfort in knowing others have gone through a similar experience. Connecting to people you know may benefit in discovering someone who knows how it feel grieve, mourn, and handle difficult situations. When a close friend or relative can help sort out these complicated moments, avoiding negative side effects can be easier. Often times a friend or loved one can reach out to their own network of friends until someone has experienced something similar. There is a clear advantage of utilizing social networks to help in a variety of facets of life.
Celebrate
Many South American cultures perform after death rituals and are primarily knowing for celebrating deaths of people in their lives. Although religious in nature, perhaps these South Americans are onto something. Instead of entering a period of sorrow and grief, it may be beneficial to enter a period of happiness and joy. Remembering the positive impact of a lost loved one may be enough to deter negative side effects of grief and loss. Even if someone refutes the belief of any afterlife, they can still find comfort in celebrating the lives of people they used to know.
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It’s important to understand that human emotions or complex. Trying one of more of the strategies discussed can help find a balance when dealing with grief and loss. Thus, one method may be more powerful than another method, depending on the type of person being helped.