FAB Blog Post

3 Healthy Ways To Cope With Grief & Loss During Your Healing Process

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Imagine going off on a sunny tropical vacation only three days later to find out your best friend passed away suddenly in her sleep.

This was my reality 10 years ago. The anger, disbelief, loss that flew through my body for the months and years ahead could have destroyed me if I let it.

Loss – whether a family member, friend, pet, relationship, job etc… can bring up overwhelming feelings of grief that may come as waves, sprinklings or rushes.

It knows no age, time limit, gender or race. It happens to us all and it can tear us up inside and it can also connect and unite us.

Before we dig in, let’s define grief. Grief is this feeling of overwhelming anger, sadness and disbelief and it can show up in many ways (mentally/physically/emotionally etc…) Here’s just a few examples:

  • Backaches
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Trouble sleeping etc…
  • Decreased productivity

The grieving process looks and feels different for everyone.

This is a topic that doesn’t get talked about much in our culture. And with all the different types of grief and loss, it can be difficult to cope with all of the emotions, overwhelm and stress leading to unhealthy coping strategies and habits that can stick with us for years.

In today’s real and raw ETV episode, you’ll learn 3 Healthy Ways To Cope with Grief and Loss.

Keep watching and reading below.

3 Healthy Ways To Cope With Grief & Loss:
Feel the Feelings: Give yourself permission (over and over again) to feel what you’re feeling. These are INTENSE emotions and they deserve your acknowledgement. This was a game changer for me and allowed me to get in touch with my body’s needs and wants and to create a stronger connection to truly hear myself instead of ignoring my feelings.

Contact a Professional: Reach out to a grief therapist, social worker, mental health counselor or a health coach that specializes in grief. There are professionals who can support you as you move through the stages of grief. Oftentimes our friends and/or family can’t always support us in the way we need. Professionals can help bring you closer to closure and open up to other hidden emotions as well as explore new coping strategies.

Surround yourself with friends and close family members: Sometimes there’s a sense of feeling alone when loss lands in your lap. Having friends and family members for support and to call on can be great to have as a listening ear, to share a fond memory or sentiment as well as to check-in with.

Grief and loss hits everyone at different times and in different ways. While there’s many ways to cope with grief and loss, choose a way that will support you for the long haul.

Now, I’d love to hear from you. What insights or a-ha moments are you taking away from this conversation? Leave a comment below.

And if you’re grieving right now – my heart goes out to you and your family.