Grief is a painful experience and sometimes people prefer to avoid their feelings to stay away from discomfort. When it comes to grief, avoidance may not be the best choice. It may seem like a good alternative, but the pain awaits you, and eventually, it needs to be faced and experienced.

Acknowledging your feelings is of utmost importance. As you are grieving, you may experience a range of emotions like sadness, guilt, anger and remorse. This is a normal part of grieving. Acknowledging it and expressing it is a healthy way to go through the grieving process. 

Make self-care your priority. Getting adequate sleep and an appropriate diet, attending to physical health and staying connected with friends are helpful ways to ensure your wellness during times of grief.

It is important to avoid taking up extra responsibilities for a while. Grief can be exhausting and may mean that you need to conserve your energy until you start to feel better. Self-care during times of grief is necessary to move towards the process of healing. It isn’t selfish to do so. It is a way of honoring your own health and wellness as you recover from a major loss. 

Grieving takes time. There is no shortcut around it. It is a natural process. As you experience the range of emotions that come with grief, be gentle and patient with yourself. Treat yourself the same way you would treat a friend who was grieving and give yourself the same kind of compassion and love.

Try to maintain your hobbies and interests. Pursuing something that relaxes your mind and soul can help you come to terms with your loss and aid the grieving process.

Seeking support is critical during times of grief. Support can come from friends, family, support groups, counselors and online support options. Sometimes when grief is overwhelming we find it difficult to ask for help, but remember that people cannot read your mind. The best way you can get help and support is to let others know you are struggling. Grief doesn’t have to be associated with loneliness. Support is available and accessible if you can take that first step of reaching out.

-Ritika Bawa Chopra (Paperwiff)