Overview
Far from being a sign of weakness, grieving is a healthy and naturally healing process. While certain emotional responses are common, each person's grief is also individual and may be experienced differently. Grief, with its many ups and downs, may last longer than most people expect or realize. The best way to deal with a loss is to recognize it, face it, accept your feelings and reactions, and get support during the grieving process.
Understanding Grief:
- Grief is the normal human response to loss.
- Grief must be expressed.
- Grief needs to be shared.
- Each of us grieves in our own way.
- Each of us grieves in our own time.
- Grief affects the five major dimensions of life: physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual.
- In grief, we move from surviving, to healing, to growing.
Treatment
Don't hesitate to seek professional help through USU's CAPS should you need it. Below are ways you can grow through grief:
- Physically – exercise regularly, drink plenty of water, get plenty of rest, breathe deeply, use relaxation skills, cut back on commitments, limit sugar, alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine use.
- Mentally – read inspirational books, make lists, be gentle with self-criticisms, experience beauty, learn about the grief process, and, to the extent possible, alternate engagement with and taking breaks from your grief.
- Emotionally – find a confidant (or a few) you can trust, let yourself be sad and cry, express your feelings through art or music, tell your story (repeatedly), and find times away from your pain.
- Socially - reach out to friends and family, accept help and ask for it, be flexible and leave yourself alternatives when attending social events, join a support group, help others, say yes to invitations but also feel free to sometimes say no.
- Spiritually - reassess your values and priorities, pray, meditate, and take time alone, experience the beauty of nature, connect with your church/spiritual community.
Tips on helping others with grief:
- Be available. (Call, send a card, stop by to talk, share a meal or activity.)
- Communicate. (Initiate conversation, listen, be willing to talk about the loss.)
- Allow expression of feelings. (Listening is more powerful than advice-giving.)
- Avoid making judgments. (Understand and accept differences in grieving and coping.)
- Be patient. (Expect ups and downs, but not a convenient time schedule.)
- Be sensitive. (Remember times and events that may be especially hard for the grieving person.)
- Encourage physical, emotional, and social self-care. (Also encourage openness to the support of others and professional help, if appropriate.)
- Accept your own limitations. (Your support is important, but you cannot take away another's pain.)
Resources
You can begin receiving help now by referring to the resources below:
Apps:
- Coping App - This app is designed to help you cope with simple, concrete ways when struggling. The app is free for both Android and iOS.