People experience losses at all ages, but older adults often face more loss as their friends and loved ones get older. Processing the grief that comes with losing someone you love is never easy. You might find it to be more difficult as you age, especially if you experience lots of losses around the same time. The following tips can help you move through your grief and learn how to handle it.
The grieving process is unique for everyone. You might share similar feelings, such as sadness, anger or denial, but how you move through those feelings and deal with them can be very different from someone else experiencing the same loss. You don't need to follow a specific process or timeline for grieving. Whatever you're feeling is normal for you. It's not necessary to avoid or change how you're feeling.
When you feel extreme sadness or grief, you might resist those emotions. Some people keep themselves busy or use unhealthy coping mechanisms to avoid the feelings. Others stay in the denial stage of grief for an extended time. Accepting the loss and letting yourself go through the emotions can help you start to heal. Let yourself cry if you feel like it. Getting your feelings out, whether it's talking to someone else or writing them down in a journal, can also help you process the loss.
While processing your feelings is important to your healing, it's also important to remember that you're still alive. It can make you feel guilty to have fun or feel happy again. Giving yourself permission to get back to your regular activities and try new things helps you deal with the loss without giving up your own life. You might ask a friend to join you on a fun activity around Colorado Springs as a way to keep living. Being in the moment and letting yourself laugh or smile when you enjoy something is also helpful.
Avoid isolating yourself as you grieve. You might worry that others won't want to be around you while you're grieving. However, spending time with people you love can make you feel better. It can also help you work through your feelings if you open up to them about your emotions. If you lost a loved one, spending time with other loved ones gives you a chance to reminisce on the good memories and support one another through the loss.
You might also need to ask friends or loved ones for support. If your grief is making it difficult to do daily tasks, you might ask them to help with things like grocery shopping or cleaning your home. If you need to see a therapist, you might ask them to drive you to the appointments. Your friends and family often want to help you when you're grieving, but they might not know how. Asking for what you need makes them feel useful and gives you support.
When you're feeling overwhelmed with grief, even the simplest things like exercising and eating can be difficult. Set small goals for getting your health back on track if you've fallen into some unhealthy coping mechanisms. Decide to go for a short daily walk to boost your endorphins and reduce stress, which could help improve your mood. Challenge yourself to drink more water or add more fruits and veggies into your diet. Improving your sleep habits to get more rest can also help because feeling rested can help you better handle your emotions.
Getting back to your routine can feel comforting. However, if you're simply going through the motions of a routine you know well, you might find yourself dwelling on your sadness or on the negative thoughts that are in your head. It can also trigger memories, especially if your loved one or friend was a part of the routine.
Changing little parts of your routine could help you stay engaged. It brings you to the present and can help you learn to live your life again. It could be as simple as taking a different route when you go somewhere or trying a new activity at Broadmoor Court. Start slowly and continue trying new things, adjusting your routine as necessary.
Talking to a therapist might be necessary if you're struggling to process the loss on your own. They can help you talk through your feelings and come up with healthy coping strategies to move through difficult periods. Grief often comes in waves, and you might experience intense feelings of sadness if you receive a painful reminder, even if you thought you'd healed.
You might also find comfort in a support group for people who've lost loved ones or friends. Grief support groups let you share your feelings with others who understand. You might learn helpful ways to deal with the loss. These groups can also help you socialize and could help you meet new friends who help you feel fulfilled.
