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The grieving process is one of the hardest things to go through after the death of a loved one. It may feel as if the pain is never going to end. Especially since grief often comes and goes with varying intensity over months and even years. However, you can get through it! Although working through the process of grief can be a long and difficult journey, we suggest some specific strategies that may help you heal during this process, making this time a little more bearable.

Allow yourself to realize the loss and be able to grieve over the loss

• It is natural and normal to grieve, even though it hurts. So, give yourself permission to grieve. Emotions come in all forms, and it's ok to experience those emotions, even though you may feel that they seem inappropriate. Allow yourself to cry, scream or let out your anger and frustration if you need to.
• Be patient with yourself. Allow yourself to grieve at a pace that is natural for you. Your healing process may take longer than others because everyone's coping strategy is unique.

Talk about your loss.

• Don't be afraid to express your feelings. Other people realize that communicating your feelings will help you heal. Find someone who will listen. Reassure them that they don't have to have all of the answers, and that you just need them to listen and be there for you.

Express yourself.

• Find a creative outlet to express your feelings, and make sure it's something that you enjoy. You could try expressing yourself through music, art, and poetry or writing in a journal or diary.

Take a break.

• Take some time to focus on yourself and take care of your own needs. Try getting active, by exercising, walking, riding a bike, or just making time to go out with friends and relax.
• Make sure to take care of your body by getting plenty of rest and eating healthy foods. If your body feels good, your mind will follow those feelings.

Maintain a routine.

• Keeping a basic routine of familiar daily activities can help you structure your time and keep you connected to familiar people and places. If possible, avoid making any major decisions, such as changing jobs or moving within the first year of bereavement. Delaying these changes helps to maintain your roots and sense of security, and to minimize additional stresses.

Join a support group.

• Support groups provide a safe environment to share your feelings and experiences with others who really understand. They help you learn to talk about your emotions and find new ways to deal with difficult situations. Group members often offer encouragement, comfort, and guidance, where friends and family may not know how to offer these nor may not feel comfortable giving.

Consider talking to a grief counselor or therapist.

• If your grief is overwhelming or if you just prefer to talk to a person knowledgeable in grief management and counseling, you may want to find a grief counselor or therapist.
• A counselor is a person who will listen and support you and will help lead you in an appropriate direction to find healing for your loss.
• A grief therapist can help you understand why you are having such a difficult time coping with the loss by identifying conflicts that are preventing you from resolving your grief. A grief therapist is a mental health professional; they set up a contract that outlines the goals, time limit, and fees involved in your therapy.
• Signs to look for that may indicate that you need additional help coping with your grief: difficulty eating or sleeping, inability to work or complete regular daily activities six months after your loss, inability to take care of yourself, feelings of worthlessness, or thoughts of suicide.

Remember, everyone's individual experience of grief and mourning is unique, likewise, everyone's coping strategies will be unique. So, not all of these suggestions will work for every person, and these suggestions don't have to be done in a specific order. Try some of the ones you think might help and discover what works best for you.