How to Cope When Someone Dies

Grieving the loss of a loved one is hard. It is hard to think that someone you know, someone you’ve been with, someone you talked to every day, someone you ate with, is gone. It is a painful process to die but it is much harder on those who are left behind, those whose lives go on.

That’s why it is important to know how you can cope with the loss. Eventually, you must know how you can move on from the experience or how you can get past it and find closure.

Here are the things you can do to cope and move on:

1. Give yourself time to heal

No one can move past a tragedy so fast. Give yourself the chance to mourn and grieve for the loss. There are no set parameters on the amount of time you must spend grieving.

2. Remember the good days

It is good to remember how it was back then. Remember the best things about the person. Don’t dwell on the bad days. Instead, concentrate on the good days you had with him/her. Remember how he/she smiled, or how he/she cheered you up.

3. Attend the memorial

Get closure by attending the memorial service. You’ll get the chance to face the reality and accept the change in your life.

4. Visit the gravesite when you’re ready

When you are a bit better, go to the gravesite. Sit down and calm yourself. You can talk to him/her or cry if you need to.

5. Get a fingerprint bracelet

Get a fingerprint bracelet. You can get his/her fingerprint on a charm bracelet and if you want, you can add some charms with special dates. For example, you can put onhis/her birthday or his/her funeral date. This way, you get to always remember the person and keep him/her close to you.

6. Get support from family and friends

Your family and friends will be your pillar of strength in these difficult days. Stay with one of your family members or close friends so that you are not alone when you go through the mourning process.

7. Go to counselling

Don’t be afraid to get help. Counsellingis a good option to consider when you need someone to talk to and give you sound advice.

8. Look after yourself

Don’t forget yourself. The deceased wouldn’t want to see you running yourself down. They would still want you to live your life to the fullest. Try to get 8 hours of sleep and eat healthy food. If you are having difficulty, talk to a doctor to get the right help you need.

9. Go to a support group

Learn from others how they got past the experience. You may be able to talk about your experience and your feelingsbetter in a group setting. You can opt to enter into a specific support group (cancer survivor group or families of crime victims) depending on the type of death.

10. Talk to a religious leader

You might be able to cope better when you get in touch with your religious leader. You may want to find some answers and talk through the experience with them.