Managing Grief, Honoring a Loved One, and Staying Healthy
Grief is a natural response to a loss of any kind, whether that’s a loved one or something that was valuable to you. It can cause imbalances in your body and mind, leading to weight loss, sleep disturbances, constant fatigue, body aches, headaches, anxiety, and even depression. People with deep grief may neglect their health, which is never good.
Grief needs to be actively managed if you’re to heal – you can’t just avoid it and hope it goes away on its own. Below, The Trainers offers some suggestions on how to address your grief, including honoring your loved ones and staying healthy:
Grief is a process
Grief is a journey that involves processing your feelings of loss, adapting to the changes it brings to your life, and healing yourself. It’s normal for the grief process to last anywhere from a year to four years, according to US Urns Online. It can be a painful and, sometimes, overwhelming experience.
It’s important you not neglect your grief but, instead, actively address it. If left incomplete, it could lead to harmful consequences (much like how an untreated wound festers with time). Psychology Today reports that unprocessed grief may lead to irritability, obsession, fear of loss, self-harm, low-grade depression, and other problems.
Here are some suggestions for getting through grief:
Being kind to yourself
Learning to meditate
Joining a support group
Finding meaning through an activity
Reconnecting with friends or family
Honoring your loved one will help you through your grief
One of the most impactful ways of finding closure from grief, for many survivors, is honoring their loved one’s memory, whether that is through words, thoughts, deeds, or other ways. Some suggestions are below:
1. Volunteer or do charity work
Doing good deeds in your loved one’s name is a wonderful way to honor them. You do some good in the world and help create a lasting legacy for your loved one in people’s minds and hearts. You could raise funds, start a trust, volunteer your time, teach something, or support a cause close to your (or their) heart.
2. Memorialize your loved one
You could immortalize your loved one by putting up a memorial plaque in a meaningful location. That way, you could preserve their memory through time, not just in words, but in a physical, tangible way through signage. People who viewed it, whether that’s loved ones or strangers, would know what kind of person was being cherished or celebrated during their lifetime. Bronze memorial plaques are permanent, attractive, and durable, meaning you can put them outdoors – give this a look. When ordering a plaque, you can customize the thickness, borders, background textures, color, and more.
3. Share stories or photos
Another great way to keep your loved one’s memory alive is by passing along stories about them to your loved ones. For instance, you could talk about their best accomplishments to your grandchildren or write about them in your journal. You could also share photos of them on social media on eventful occasions or put up a few pictures around your house.
Self-care and staying healthy are important
Don’t forget to look after yourself while you grieve. Grief can be hard on the body, mind, and heart – you need a solid self-care routine to keep yourself feeling good and optimistic about life. It will help you heal, not to mention it’s what your loved one would want for you. You can go in nature, exercise, pick up a hobby, eat healthily, and think positive thoughts.
One of the best ways to both stay fit and recover from your grief is by joining the local gym. Not only would it help you to find all-around fitness, but you’d also be surrounded by active, energetic, and enthusiastic people.
Conclusion
Although we all experience grief, the exact experience is still unique for everyone. You should give yourself the time and space you need to process it. Remember that you’re not alone in your journey – you can always talk to your loved ones, join support groups, or seek professional counseling to get over your grief.
Article by Catherine Workman
Image via Unsplash