Each person is unique in their bereavement needs while coping with the loss of a loved one. Sadly, you didn’t choose the road you are presently trying to navigate but you can decide to choose a new, different path for your future journey. With a helping hand, you can allow grief to run its course and then leave it by the wayside driving on to the memories that hold a special place in your heart as you move forward.
The key to making a successful transition is the ability to manage intense feelings and emotions in a healthy manner. Grieving touches everyone differently, and there are many factors to consider when going through the process. Some handle grief by “wearing it on their sleeve”. Others keep their feelings of grief to themselves. In her book, Death and Dying, Elisabeth Kulber-Ross describes the five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Being familiar with these stages will help you understand feelings and emotions as you either experience them in succession or go back and forth between the stages.
Having compassion for yourself and taking care of your well-being is critical at this time. As you grieve you may experience a bevy of emotions, numbness, mood swings, and reactions. They can be very intense at times but they are healthy in the fact that they will help you come to terms with your loss. Sometimes, you just have to sit with them for a while. Surrendering to them is uncomfortable but becomes less severe with time.
Here are some tips to help make the transition easier:
Join my new Facebook Group on my business page in which I want to build a tribe of women who support each other and feel empowered to move forward. It’s called MOVING BEYOND DIVORCE.