Most people experience grief when they lose something or someone important to them. If these feelings are affecting your life, there are things you can try that may help.
Bereavement, grief and loss can cause many different feelings and they affect people in different ways. There’s no right or wrong way to feel.
Some of the most common feelings include:
- shock and numbness
- overwhelming sadness
- tiredness or exhaustion
- anger
- guilt
These feelings may not be there all the time and these feelings may appear unexpectedly. It’s not always easy to recognise when bereavement, grief or loss are the reason you’re acting or feeling differently.
If you are finding things hard, it can be particularly helpful to:
- Take each day at a time. There might be good days and bad days. Try to focus on each day at a time and set yourself small, achievable goals.
- Let others know how you’re feeling. Tell people what you find helpful and let them know when you are finding things difficult. It’s okay to ask others to be with you if you need them.
- Seek support. Talking with a trained professional can help you become more aware of and address your thoughts and feelings following a loss. It can be useful to have a continuous focused source of support that goes beyond the level of support that friends or family may be able to provide.
- Get enough sleep. Learn how to relax before bed, making sure your bedroom is a calm place and as clear of distractions as possible. If you are having trouble sleeping, see our pages on coping with sleep problems.
- Eat well. Eating regular healthy meals can make a big difference to your overall sense of wellbeing.
- Avoid drugs and alcohol. Alcohol and drugs tend to make it difficult in the longer term for you to manage your feelings and find ways to help you to cope.
If you’re struggling to come to terms with a death, finding daily life hard and things don’t seem to be getting any better, it can help to talk to someone. Tell a trusted friend or family member how you’re feeling – it could make all the difference.
If you’re feeling very worried, you can talk to us. We are available 24/7 on 01482 240133, [email protected] or chat to us live at www.heymind.org.uk.
