Understanding and Processing Grief: You Don’t Have To Grieve Alone

Experiencing loss is difficult. Whether it's prompted by the death of a much-loved person or pet, or a sudden life change such as divorce, job loss, or the end of a friendship, grief can be an intense and emotional response to loss and may affect people in different ways. While grief is natural and a unique process for each individual, it can sometimes be overwhelming, which is why it's important to find healthy ways to cope and to know when to seek professional help.

Grief is often accompanied by a mix of emotions, including sadness or depression, anxiety or isolation, yearning or hopelessness, anger, guilt, and confusion. Grief may also take a physical toll, and recognizing that it may affect your body and your mind is important.

Signs of grief may include physical or behavioral changes, such as:

• Fatigue
• Sleep changes
• Appetite changes
• Aches and pains
• Difficulty concentrating
• Avoidance
• Changes in daily routines

While grief is a natural response to loss that looks different for everyone, negative coping mechanisms may be signs that it's time to seek professional help. If grief begins to affect your daily life and routine for longer than two weeks, seek help from your primary care doctor or mental health professional.

Reach out to a doctor if you experience:

• Persistent depression
• Substance abuse
• Severe weight loss
• Chronic pain

In some cases, those moving through grief may experience suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know has thoughts about suicide, seek help right away. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room.

If you find yourself moving through grief, here are some healthy ways to cope with your feelings:

• Lean on friends and family members for comfort. Grief may make you feel isolated, but your loved ones want to support you in your times of need. For those who are affected by the same loss, leaning on one another may bring you closer together. Reach out to friends and family when you need additional emotional support.
• Create a routine. Grief may be exhausting and may affect our sense of time. Having a routine that includes cleaning, regular hygiene, and getting out of the house may help a person work through the sadness that often comes with experiencing grief.
• Find ways to honor your lost loved one or pet. One of the best ways to move through grief is to find ways to celebrate your loved one's life. Have a memorial service or find a small way to celebrate their life each year on the anniversary of their death.

Coping with grief is a personal journey, but you don't have to do it alone.

There is no "right" way to navigate grief, but finding healthy ways to cope with and manage grief can be a team effort between you and your doctor, and together you may find a personalized approach that works for you.

Disclaimer: If you or someone you know has thoughts about suicide, seek help right away. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room. To reach a trained crisis counselor, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). You may also chat at 988.lifeline.org.

Community resources may include support groups such as Griefshare, Bo's Place, and Modern Widow's Club, which are for those affected by grief. Other resources may be available with discussion with your primary care provider or a mental health specialist.