How to Cope With Grief and Keep Living

Grieving is a complex process. When someone dies, whether it’s sudden or you know it’s going to happen because they were sick, it hurts. We don’t want to lose the ones we love. You could be coping with the loss of a parent, friend, or even a pet, and it’s devastating. It’s easy to fall into a hole of depression after someone passes away, particularly if they were close to you. Imagine you were with a partner for over 20 years. One day they die, and you’re left alone in your house without them. That could cause a sense of emptiness and depression. Though grief is undoubtedly painful, there are ways to cope, process it, and move forward.

Remembering the good times

When you think about the person who died, it can help to remember the good times you had with them. If you lost a parent, those times happened over many years. It’s a wonderful feeling to reminisce about those happy moments. You might even write them down in a journal. You can look at old pictures of your loved one and recall the fun moments. There’s nothing wrong with recalling these precious moments.

Write a letter to your loved one who passed on.

Though you won’t be able to talk to the person who died, you can write a letter to them. You can write down the things you wish you could say to them. Some people believe that spirits can hear us from beyond. Regardless of your beliefs about an afterlife (or not), it can help to process your grief to let out things you wanted to say to your loved one. If writing a letter isn’t your thing, you could talk to them as if they were in the room. There are always things left to say after someone dies, and it’s helpful to let those things out.

Talk to mutual friends or family members about the person who passed on.

It’s helpful sometimes to speak to others who knew your loved one who died. They can recall happy memories they had about the person. You can reminisce together. When dealing with grief, sometimes we feel alone in our pain. However, when you connect with people who are also experiencing that loss, it helps to feel less alone. Maybe they remember things that you forgot. You can look at old photo albums together. It can help to bond with others over your loved one who passed away.

Join a support group

One thing that can help you when you’re grieving is to join a support group. There you can find others who are grieving from losing someone too. You don’t have to suffer from your feelings alone. You may be confused or angry about your loved one dying. There may feel feelings that don’t seem to make sense to you. When you express them in the group, there will surely be others who get it. It helps to have a community of people who are coping with loss and are willing to support one another.

Seeing an online therapist for grief

Online therapy can provide a safe space for people to speak about loss. An online counselor wants to hear the old stories about your loved one. They’re here to provide an environment to be vulnerable in, so you can heal from grief. They can be patient with your grieving process, and they will never shame you about your feelings. You can seek out an online therapist at a company like BetterHelp. You can choose someone who understands how unique the grieving process is and can provide you a sounding board to get through it. They can encourage you to keep living while you’re grieving and find ways to show you how to practice self-care. Remember, you can reach out for help during the grieving process. There are people who want to support you during this difficult time.

ABOUT AUTHOR: Marie Miguel
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.