-Shreya Naresh,
Intern, Mind Splatters, July - Aug 2023
Navigating the sea of emotions that accompanies grief and loss can feel like an insurmountable challenge. In the tapestry of human experience, these universal emotions thread their way through our lives, evoking a complex symphony of feelings that can leave us feeling adrift. Yet, within the depths of sorrow lies an opportunity for understanding, healing, and growth.
Grief emerges as a natural reaction to loss, an emotional ache that arises when cherished people or things are relinquished. The intensity of this experience can be overwhelming, giving rise to a range of complex emotions—shock, anger, disbelief, guilt, and profound sorrow. Grief's impact extends beyond the emotional realm, affecting physical well-being, and disrupting sleep, appetite, and clarity of thought. These responses, while challenging, are inherent and proportionate to the magnitude of the loss encountered.
Grief is an inherently personal journey, devoid of a definitive right or wrong approach. How you navigate this path is influenced by a multitude of factors: your unique personality, coping mechanisms, life history, spiritual beliefs, and the profoundness of the loss you're grappling with.
The process of grieving unfolds organically, resisting any attempts at hastening or coercion. A predetermined "normal" timeline for grieving remains elusive; healing is a gradual evolution. Some individuals may find relief in weeks or months, while for others, this journey spans years. In all its variations, extending self-compassion and allowing the course of grief to naturally and gently take its course remains an essential aspect of this intricate process.
How to cope with loss?
Facing loss is an unavoidable aspect of our journey, but there exist methods to manage the hurt, make peace with your sorrow, and eventually, gather the fragments and forge ahead in life.
Recognize your pain. Talk about the person you loved who has passed away with friends or coworkers. This helps you understand what happened and remember them. Avoiding this can make you feel alone and stop you from healing with your support group.
Embrace the fact that grief can bring forth various and surprising feelings. It's okay to have different feelings like sadness, anger, or being tired. These feelings are normal. If they become too much, talk to a licensed psychologist or mental health expert. They can help you manage your emotions and find ways to feel better.
Realize that your way of grieving is your own.
Reach out for in-person help from those who care about you. Help others who are also dealing with the loss. Spending time with them and sharing memories can help everyone. It can also make you feel better.
Nurture your emotional well-being by looking after your physical health. Take care of yourself and your family. Eat good food, exercise, and sleep enough to stay healthy. Grief can affect your body. Make sure your family is doing these things too.
Differentiate between grief and depression. While grief is a response to a specific loss, depression is a broader and longer-lasting state that may require professional intervention. Hence, it is necessary to acknowledge your emotions, recognize the difference, take care of yourself, accept offers of help from those around you, and be sure to get counseling if you need it.
Dealing with grief is tough, and it's different for everyone. Sometimes, the weight of it can be too much to handle on our own. Remember, it's okay to seek help. Therapy can offer guidance, support, and tools to work through it. Don't hesitate to reach out and get the assistance you might need to get back on your feet.
Taking care of your physical health even when you're grieving is a super important tip that was included!
grief is such a complex and multifaceted reality of human existence, glad you covered it!