The death of a loved one can cause you to feel uncontrollable grief. If you struggle to deal with this emotion in the aftermath of your loved one’s passing, discover ways to manage grief as you honour your loved one.

Speak to a grief counsellor

Grief, especially in the days and weeks following your loved one’s death, can seem like it will always be there. Do you struggle with day-to-day living because the grief seems too much to bear? If you can’t seem to work or get through school or have become depressed, then you might consider a grief counsellor.

A grief counsellor can help you understand your grief, deal with the challenges you experience due to your grief and come to terms with your loss. With a professional’s help, you can better know the grieving process, the coping mechanisms to turn to and the ways to heal and move forward. And during all this, you’ll be able to speak about your loved one and the times you shared.

Remember happy times

You likely made great memories with your loved one. While these memories might seem too painful to dwell on, they can be a great way to bring some laughter and smiles. If you were able to record these experiences in photos or videos, don’t be afraid to go through them. Other ways to remember your happy memories is to write them down, talk about them or simply think about them.

Have a support system

Never isolate yourself after a loved one’s death. Grieving might make you feel alone and afraid to reach out to others. However, having a support system is key. Whether that support system is friends, family, other grieving people or professionals, they can help you simply by being there when you need them.

The level you depend on your support system is up to you. Perhaps you want to simply talk to someone about your loved one, or you might need someone who knows how you feel and has gone through similar experiences. No matter what, having a reliable person to turn to when you feel alone can help you stay connected with the world and process your feelings as you work through them.

And with your support system, you can collectively remember and cherish your loved one.

Take care of yourself

When some people grieve, they might feel that some things are too hard to deal with. This can include daily tasks like hygiene, sleep or eating. However, while grief can seem crippling, ensure that you continue to take care of yourself.

For example, sticking to a daily routine can help a person find comfort in the familiar and pride that they have managed these tasks despite their grief. This also ensures that you do the necessary daily things to keep yourself going.

Find a distraction

Perhaps, despite your best efforts, your grief might seem too overwhelming. In that case, the best thing to do sometimes is to distract yourself. While you shouldn’t do this all the time, it can be a great way to focus on other things, even for just a little while.

A distraction can be something as simple as finding a new TV show to like or as complex as pursuing a new passion like hiking. And while the distraction should be something you enjoy, you can also pick something that your loved one enjoyed or was interested in. That way, you can keep the memory of your loved one alive, honour them and enjoy this new hobby yourself.

Give your loved one a fitting farewell

No matter where you are in your grieving journey, rely on the professionals at Cremations Only. We offer a variety of funeral packages and keepsakes for departed loved ones. Speak to our caring team today about how to best honour your loved one.