How to Heal and Recover After Suffering Grief and Loss

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How to Heal and Recover After Suffering a Loss

We are very sorry to hear about your loss. While we know that loss and grieving are a part of life, knowing that doesn’t make it any easier when a loved one passes away. Although everyone deals with grief in different ways, many people can let that sadness control their lives for months or even years, and although it is okay to be sad, you need to take care of your health as well. On our website, we encourage people to reduce stress and thrive, so we want to help by providing tips that you can use after a loss so you can maintain your physical and mental health even during this challenging time.

Spend Time With Loved Ones

Before you start to focus on your physical health, it is important to take some time to grieve. You want to think about the good and special times that you had with your loved one and realize that they are now in a better place. While you can grieve alone, it can be easier to spend time with other loved ones and cry on each other's shoulders. That way, you are not alone and you always have someone to talk to because expressing your feelings is the first step to recovery.

Again, it is okay to spend time reflecting on your own, but you also don’t want to let yourself become too isolated or it could have negative effects on your mental health. These days, we are spending more time at home alone as we practice social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic and many of us even work at home. If you do work remotely, it is important to prioritize your mental health, and you can do so by calling your friends when you need company, making sure to take breaks when necessary, and by picking a hobby that you can do after work to keep your mind occupied.

Exercise

After the initial grieving period, it is important to get back into your regular routine, and a good part to add is daily exercise. By fitting in 20-30 minutes of exercise every morning, you can clear your mind and get the natural energy that you may be lacking as you think about the person you lost. This fitness routine can include anything from cardio, like running around the neighborhood or hiking, or it could be light weights. Also, by exercising, you will feel more physically fit and you will be less likely to eat unhealthy food to cope.

Setting a fitness goal like losing a certain amount of weight or gaining muscle weight can be a good motivation to get you to those workouts.

Get Your Sleep

Although you may be spending more time in bed during these sad days, it is also important that you get seven to nine hours of quality sleep every night. This nightly rest is essential because you need to relax your body and mind so you can be recharged for the next day. If you aren’t getting a lot of sleep, it may not be your fault. Sometimes, when we lose someone close, we have to relearn how to live our lives, and sleep is a part of that.

To get back to your natural circadian rhythm, make it a habit to go to sleep at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning, even on weekends. Also, avoid looking at your phone while you lay in bed because the blue light can disrupt your patterns. If you still can’t sleep, call a loved one. Their reassuring words could be just what you need.

Get Professional Help

If you are focusing on your help but you just are not feeling better, then you may want to talk to a therapist or a counseling center. The Better Help community is a good start because they can recommend a therapist for your specific needs. You can find other great resources at the link here.

In the end, while you won’t get over your grief overnight, with effort and a positive mind frame, you will get better. If you would like to know how Shawn Geraty and his staff can assist, then contact us at [email protected].

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Post-Read: Post by Camille Johnson. Check out Camille’s website and Instagram (@writtenbycamille) for more articles and self-care inspiration.