The month of August is used to mark the National Grief Awareness Month as a way to address the profound impact that loss has on our lives and provide tools for people navigating loss and the grief that comes with it.
Grief is a deeply personal journey, and while everyone’s experience is unique, there are universal strategies that have proven to help those navigating this challenging path. A few of these strategies include;
- Acknowledging Your Grief: After experiencing loss, it can sometimes be tempting to live in denial of what has happened or the feelings of grief you are going through. However, acknowledging your grief is essential to healthily navigating loss. It is normal to feel a whirlwind of emotions when dealing with loss—sadness, anger, confusion, and so on. Allowing yourself to acknowledge these feelings and express them in healthy ways is crucial as suppressing them can delay healing and be detrimental to your mental health and general wellbeing. Be honest about what you’re feeling and give yourself permission to cry, reflect, and express your hurt.
- Seeking Support: Seeking support is another vital step to navigating grief in a healthy way. By surrounding yourself with understanding friends and family, you create a safe and supportive space where you can talk about your feelings or just exist when you need to. This can be incredibly therapeutic. You can also consider writing in a journal or engaging in creative outlets like painting or music, especially if you find it difficult to express yourself. For many, professional counseling and therapy or support groups also provide a safe space to explore and process grief with others who understand and are equipped with the right tools to help you walk through your grief.
- Self-care: Grief can be physically exhausting and so maintaining a self-care routine that includes regular meals, sleep, and physical activity is very crucial at this time. Small acts of self-kindness such as taking a walk or practicing mindfulness, can make a significant difference. Always remember that it’s okay to take time for yourself and to seek moments of joy amidst the sorrow.
- Be Patient With Yourself: Grief doesn’t have a set timeline and healing is not linear. Some days will be more challenging than others, and that’s perfectly normal. It’s important to avoid setting unrealistic expectations for how quickly you should ‘move on’ or ‘get over it.’
- Honoring The Memory of Your Loved One(s): You can honor the memory of your loved one’s in meaningful ways. Whether through a personal ritual, creating a tribute or simply holding onto cherished memories, keeping their legacy alive through these can offer you much comfort and a sense of connection.
The National Grief Awareness Month reminds us that while the journey through loss can be difficult, there is hope and support available. Embracing these strategies can help significantly with navigating the complexities of grief and ultimately lead to healing and renewal.
CONTACT VITALIS HEALTHCARE
At Vitalis HealthCare, our team of certified, experienced, professional caregivers and registered nurses are efficiently trained and committed to providing you with the highest quality compassionate homecare services.
If you or a loved one is going through a difficult time of grief and in need of companion caregivers, please feel free to visit Vitalis Healthcare today, book a free consultation with us to get matched with the best service for your needs.
With us, you are in safe, competent and compassionate hands.
Phone Number: 240.716.6874
Email: info@vitalishealthcare.com
Location: We provide our services in every county in the State of Maryland, United States of America.
Office Address: 8757 Georgia Avenue Suite 440 Silver Spring, MD 20910.