As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist I see the effects of losing a loved one and the grief that washes over them, like waves of the ocean. None of us choose to go through grief, it just lands on our doorstep, on an ordinary day and leaves sadness and sometimes hopelessness behind.
Grief is our natural response to losing a loved one and there are some basic stages we sometimes go through. These stages can include Bargaining, Denial, Anger, Depression and Acceptance. They come in no particular order and just when you think you have made it through a stage..bam the wave crashes again and you are back to where you started.
To ease the incoming waves of grief here are a few resources I’d like to share with you that can help you cope. They are in no way the fix for grief but may be helpful. Therapists call these coping skills and they are anything that gives you a moment of peace. A moment when you can breathe in and release a small bit of the grief. This is just the beginning of a list you can create for yourself. If you google “coping skills” you will find hundreds of ideas. The coping skills I am listing have helped my clients to regain some peace in their lives.
Take a walk
Meet a friend for coffee or tea
Talk to a trusted friend
Pray
Rest
Eat healthy foods
Cry – tears are healing
Breathe
Be patient with yourself
Create Art – color, paint, draw, play with play dough
Attend grief counseling or a support group
Remember your loved one
Listen to music
Read your bible
Create a memory box
Sing your favorite song
Read your favorite magazine or book
Go to the beach or another favorite spot
There is no one way to grieve. Do what feels right for you. If you find yourself isolating or feeling depressed contact a therapist in your area. You are not alone. Give yourself time and the permission to grieve. Resources to help you cope with griefDebbie Ciulla LMFT #98887 – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist(805)551-7957 therapydebb@gmail.com www.ohanafamilycounseling.com