Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Work on Your Feelings
• Part 2 of 3: Seek Support
• Part 3 of 3: Move Forward
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

When a loved one dies, it may seem like life is over. However, over time, you will be able to cope with your feelings and realize that the situation is not so hopeless. While you won't be able to bring back the person you lost or stop thinking about them completely, you will be able to cope with the pain and move forward to continue living a meaningful and fulfilling life.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Work on Your Feelings

1. 1 Let your feelings go out. You may think that if you hold back your feelings or pretend that nothing happened, you can get back to your normal life more quickly. While this may be true, if you don't delve into your deepest feelings, you won't be able to truly move forward. Instead, allow yourself to cry, get angry, get annoyed, or express feelings in your usual way.
   • Be alone, cry and you will see that your condition has improved significantly. While you may not feel like crying, remember, it can help you release negative emotions.
   • Crying is natural for most people. However, many find that after a few days they should return to work or school to keep their minds occupied with something other than loss.
   • However, not everyone cries after the death of a loved one. If you are not crying, this does not mean that you do not have feelings for the deceased person; it simply means that you are perceiving the situation differently. Don't blame yourself if you don't cry or do something you don't want to do.
   • Express your feelings when you are at home or with a loved one.You can decide for yourself how it is easier for you to express your feelings.
   • Keep a journal in which you can express your feelings for a while. This will help you stay more focused and in control.
2. 2 Give yourself time to grieve. After letting go of your feelings, admit that you are grieving. You can have sorrowful feelings for a long time, and it is only natural that you will not be able to rejoice and experience happiness from what used to delight you in the past. You can stay at home instead of meeting with friends. You don't have to laugh when you watch your favorite comedy show. You may lose interest in your studies. Agree that you are going through a difficult time instead of moving too fast. Tell yourself that you will get better over time.
   • If you want to take a little break from work or school to cope with the situation, then this is completely natural. It is very difficult to move forward when you feel empty inside. However, for some, work and study help them get back to normal life. Choose the method that is convenient for you.
   • Don't force yourself to interact with people. Most likely, you do not want this at all. While you shouldn't completely isolate yourself from society, you shouldn't put a fake smile on your face when you feel like lying curled up at home.
3. 3 Get support. Although, at first, you can be alone to think about the situation that has happened, remember, this cannot go on forever. Remember, life goes on and in order to recover, you need a shoulder to lean on; Chat with friends, family members, or even people over the Internet if you can't find anyone closer. They need to know that you need help and support.
   • Don't think that you will burden your friends with your negative feelings and emotions; they want to take care of you. If you do not want your friends to be with you during this difficult time, can you call your relationship friendly?
   • Of course, friends don't have to be around you 24/7 during a difficult period of time, and you might want to be alone too. However, your friends should know that you will be grateful if they come to your aid when you need them.
4. 4 Don't force yourself to be strong. Some people try to stay strong by impressing others with their calmness and dignity. However, such people are rare and sometimes they can only be seen on TV. Don't force yourself to imitate their example. While you shouldn't express your feelings in front of everyone, don't go to the other extreme, collecting your emotions into a fist.
   • Remember, your friends and family members care about you. They want you to be honest and open with them. Plus, they want to see your real feelings and emotions.
   • Deal with pain; do not pretend that you are doing well.
5. 5 Don't set a time frame. While you may think you need to get back to normal after a certain period of time just because your friend was able to recover from the loss of a loved one during that period, you shouldn't set a time frame for yourself. Don't set yourself the goal of feeling great by a certain date, you will experience complete frustration.
   • Be kind to yourself, not too hard. Don't tell yourself that you have to act in a certain way at a certain time, focus on healing yourself.
   • Don't compare yourself to other people who have also faced the loss of a loved one. Your best friend or cousin may have come back to life very quickly after losing a loved one. However, you cannot be sure exactly what they are going through on the inside.

Part 2 of 3: Seek Support

1. 1 Spend more time with your friends and loved ones. Family and friends can provide you with the support you need.If you just watch a movie with your family, or talk to your best friend about your feelings, you may feel better. Do not be isolated in your feelings, share them with others.
   • If you have lost a family member, then spend time with other members of your family. Share your memories of the person you love. You won't feel so lonely. Remember, you don't have to avoid talking about the person you lost if you want to quickly get back to life.
   • When you hang out with friends, you don't have to go to a bar or to a noisy party; just have a coffee with a close friend, go for a walk or watch a light-hearted movie. It can help you recover.
2. 2 Find a support group. By being in the company of people who have experienced these feelings, you can recover faster and feel less lonely. Plus, you can build new relationships and deal with grieving feelings more easily. Meet your new friends at least once or twice a week. You will look forward to these meetings with great impatience.
   • Give a new relationship a chance. Don't judge people without getting to know them better. You may find that it is easier for you to share your feelings with people who have experienced similar experiences.
3. 3 Seek comfort in your religion (if you are a member of a religious organization). If you are a religious person, then you can devote more time to spiritual affairs. This will help you recover faster. Spending time in your faith organization will not only help you find solace, but also spend more time with like-minded people who truly care for each other.
   • Even if you only attend the meeting once a week, it will have a positive impact on you.
   • The religious organization of which you are a member may also engage you in volunteer work. This will help you take your mind off the grieving event and spend your time more efficiently.
4. 4 Get help from a psychologist. While psychotherapy is not for everyone, you shouldn't rule out this option. If you feel that you cannot cope on your own or with the help of friends and family, then you are better off seeking the help of a professional who can help you deal with your feelings. A psychologist can help you see things differently and find new ways to get back to normal.
   • It is not a sign of weakness to use the help of a psychologist. It actually speaks of your strength; only a strong person can say that he needs help.
5. 5 Get a pet. While you may think this is stupid advice, a cat or dog can improve your emotional well-being. You can hug your pet, spend time with him. In addition, you will have the feeling that someone needs you; it will fill your life with meaning. Of course, a kitten will not replace your beloved mother or father, but it can help you to live on.
   • Go to an animal shelter to take your pet home. You will feel even better if you take an animal that really needs your love and care.
6. 6 Don't get discouraged by people who don't know how to help you. Unfortunately, not everyone can say what will comfort you. Some people may not think about it and say something that hurts your feelings. They may say something that you can interpret differently. Do not pay attention to such words. Spend less time with these people if possible.
   • People may compare the loss of your next of kin to the loss of a casual acquaintance or distant relative; they may say that your relative is in a better place or that you will be back to normal in a few weeks. With these words, they do not want to hurt your feelings, but on the contrary they want to support you. However, they don't think it might hurt you.
   • Remember, spending too much energy getting upset about people who don't know how to help you can make your condition worse. It's natural that you feel frustrated, but try not to take such words personally.
7. 7 Don't force yourself to smile. As you start spending more time with people, do not force yourself to be joyful and merry if there is sadness and grief in your soul. Of course, you should not advertise your feelings in public, but at the same time, there is no need to pretend that you are doing well. If you are trying to convince your friends and family that you are doing well, they will very quickly lead you to clean water.
   • You deprive yourself of vitality when you try to pretend that you are doing well. This only aggravates your condition.

Part 3 of 3: Move Forward

1. 1 Don't make important decisions during this period. When faced with the death of a loved one, you may have the urge to quit your job, sell your house, or make other important changes in your life, but try not to rush, wait, do not make such decisions when you are in pain of loss. You may regret your decision later. Let it be at least a few months after you lost your loved one so that you can assess the situation with a clear head. Also, discuss your decision with a few friends to make sure you make the right choice.
   • While you may think that you are making an important decision or getting rid of something that burdens your life, chances are that over time, you will regret it.
2. 2 Continue to take care of yourself. While 8 hours of sleep or regular meals may not interest you at all when you are heartbroken, if you want to keep living, then you have to take care of yourself. Taking care of your physical and mental health will help you cope with the situation more easily. Be sure to follow these tips:
   • Sleep at least 7-8 hours, go to bed and wake up at the same time every night.
   • Have three healthy, balanced meals that include protein, fruits, vegetables, and carbohydrates.
   • Maintain your hygiene. Showering, bathing, and shaving regularly will help you recover faster.
   • Set aside at least 30 minutes of exercise if you can. You can walk instead of driving. Physical activity will make you feel better.
3. 3 Return slowly to social life. Once you feel like you're returning to normal, you can allow yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Instead of just spending time watching TV with a friend, go for a walk, go to a restaurant, or to a party. While you shouldn't force yourself to do this, remember that this will help you get back to your normal life faster.
   • You don't have to jam your weekly schedule with numerous events. In fact, plan your schedule so that you feel comfortable.
   • If you are prone to alcoholism, you should avoid alcohol until you feel emotionally stable. Alcohol is a sedative, and although it can numb the pain at first, over time you will feel very depressed. Don't let your friends force you to drink if you're not ready for it.
4. 4 Take up a hobby. After your pain subsides, you can return to activities that make you happy. While you may initially have to force yourself to paint, do yoga, or play the guitar, gradually you will enjoy doing it. Set aside at least a few hours a week for your favorite activities and immerse yourself in them completely.
   • While you won't be able to take your mind off your pain completely, engaging in activities can help you recover faster than if you simply devote your time to watching reality shows. Be patient with yourself and you will find time for your favorite activities.
   • If you don't feel like doing something that interested you before, you can find a new hobby.
5. 5 Continue to remember your loved one. Just because you’re back to normal doesn’t mean that you should completely forget about the person you lost. You should remember this person. You can talk about him with the loved ones who cared for him, go to his grave, view photographs or valuables that remind you of him, or just walk around thinking about this person. This can help you come to terms with the idea that this person is not with you.
   • If it is too painful for you to think about the person, then you can wait until you react in this way.
6. 6 Find joy in life again. While it may seem like this is not possible, trust me, in the future you will be able to do it. This does not mean you need to calm down or stop thinking about the person you love in order to be happy again. When you feel that you are on the path to healing, you can begin to notice the good things around you. Now you may think that this is impossible, but very soon you will be able to enjoy life again.
   • Notice small things and rejoice in them. It could be what surrounds you: a little kitten, a delicious dish, and the like. All of this will help you move forward.
   • Be patient with yourself. Things will appear gray, dark and hopeless for a long period of time. However, make an effort, take care of yourself, and you can enjoy life again.

Tips

• Sometimes you have to cry.
• Talk to your loved one and understand that there is always a person who has similar feelings; you are not the only one who has someone died.
• Think good things, that one day you will be able to meet your loved one.
• Sometimes you just have to give free rein to your feelings and then go to sleep and wake up the next day. You will probably feel better.
• You can also talk to your friends, they can help you, as they probably experienced the same.

Warnings

• Always remember that although a loved one has died, this does not mean that you will no longer meet with him.
• Never think that it is your fault for a person's death. This will only complicate things.
• Don't let your feelings get the best of you.
• Don't let feelings drag you too far, don't let them completely overshadow your mind, to the point where you can't eat or sleep.
• Don't let other family members get too sad. Yes, they need time to think and collect their thoughts, but don't let them go overboard.

What do you need

• A loving person.
• A secluded place where you can calm down.
• Something nice, like a teddy bear or something that will make you feel better.
• Diary.
• Something with which you can distract yourself.