Losing a spouse is one of the most difficult experiences many of us will ever endure. The grief can sometimes feel overwhelming. As difficult as dealing with this grief is, the human mind and spirit are incredibly resilient and even something as devastating as losing a spouse can be overcome. If you are dealing with the grief of losing your wife or husband, or you know someone who is, consider these five methods to aid you in rising above the pain:
1) Turn to Your Friends and Family
Don’t be afraid to express your feelings to those closest to you. There is something incredibly comforting and cathartic about grieving alongside your loved ones. Chances are you may have friends and family who were incredibly close to your spouse as well who could benefit from your company as much as you could from theirs. Reach out to them. Reminisce about the past, talk about the future, and, if need be, cry on each other’s shoulders.
2) Rely on Your Faith
If you are a person of faith, now is as an important a time as ever to rely on it and allow it to guide you through the grieving process. Even if you don’t consider yourself a religious person, there’s a lot of peace and comfort to be found in spiritual exercises such as meditation. The reality of loss is one of the primary reasons people turn to spirituality and faith. It is in the darkest of times that these things are most important.
3)Maintain Your Physical Health
At a time when so much emphasis is being placed on your mental well-being, it can be easy to neglect your physical well-being. Throughout the grieving process, make sure you are eating healthy, exercising often, and addressing any concerns to your physical health as they come up.
4) Talk to a Grief Counselor
Seeking professional help isn’t a sign of weakness or defeat and professional grief counselors have a lot to offer in terms of providing you with healthy, effective ways to deal with your loss. If you ever feel like the grief is becoming too much for you to bare on your own, seeking out the aid of a grief counselor may be just what you need to pick yourself back up again.
5) Remember all You Have to Live for
This world is a crazy, beautiful, wonderful place. No matter what stage of your life you are in, there is still so much left to live for. If you are young, the future holds so many incredible experiences to enjoy, such as new memories with old friends. Somewhere down the road, perhaps even new love is in the cards. Even if you feel as if you are too old for new love, the world still offers the warm companionship of those around you and the wonderful recollection of a life well-lived. If ever it feels as if grief is all the world has left to offer, search deep for the beautiful moments it still provides. Chances are you won’t have to look hard to find them.
