Coping With Grief. Losses are inevitable and suffering is just one of the aspects of being alive. Last year alone, approximately 8 million people suffered the loss of an immediate family member. Despite the irreversible nature of pain, grief is a friend you make in times when your mind is overwhelmed by a tempestuous sea of emotions.

Dealing with grief is unique to everyone; how long it lingers and how we react to it varies per person. It entails both mental and physical effects, manifesting into conditions like insomnia, fatigue, reduced immunity, and fluctuating weight. Sufferers may exhibit self-destructive behavior, while others emote shock, anger, guilt, anxiety, hopelessness, and confusion in response. Prolonged grief can develop into Complicated Grief, a condition affecting approximately 7% of older adults – responsible for derailing the recovery process for decades.

Feelings of loss and grief can emerge due to multiple reasons – such as death, illness, unemployment, divorce, or losing friends. Employing practical approaches assist in getting closure while some methods to cope with grief are:

Acknowledging Your Reality

Avoiding indicators of loss such as family, friends, or places that serve as reminders of painful memories, hinder the process of recovery. Confronting such indicators; although emotionally aggravating, stimulate the acceptance of loss. Try to deal with harsh realities head-on, break mental attachments to what is lost, and focus on accepting living loved ones back into your life.

Employ Focus Building Techniques

Occasionally during the course of grieving, distracting thoughts may prevent you from completing simple, everyday tasks. Willingness to work may be replaced by feelings of lethargy and procrastination. In lieu of this, the Pomodoro technique, conceptualized after a tomato-shaped timer, proves itself most useful in bringing the focus back on track. In this method bigger tasks are broken down into shorter sprints of 25 minutes, paced with only a timer, thus consistently maintaining productivity. If you struggle to concentrate and find your thoughts wandering, scheduling tasks this way will redirect focus on the job and reduce distractions.

Adopting a Healthy Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle is not just a choice but a priority during difficult times. Regular exercise has similar effects as anti-depressants on the brain, while regulated sleep schedules boost immunity, and prevent excessive weight gain. A healthy body is a gateway to a healthy mind and the intake of a balanced diet of fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables laden with nutrients is instrumental in regulating serotonin; and other inflammatory chemicals, hormones, and emotions.

Pursue Spirituality & Meditation

In times of grief, prayer beads battle beads of tears. During times of confusion and guilt, activities indulging in spirituality, prayers, and religious rituals can cultivate comfort. Studies indicate that spiritual belief systems may reduce the possibility of developing complicated grief mechanisms while meditation positively affects the amygdala, training the mind to battle disturbing thoughts with resilience. Find a spiritual or meditative outlet to generate moments of optimism.

Overcoming grief is a personal journey, a gradual process of gaining victory over heartache. Keep track of your self-healing, and remember that happiness is a choice that must be chosen every minute of every day. And while it is easier said than done, with time and consistent practice you will emerge stronger.