STAYING HEALTHY IN THE FACE OF GRIEF

This week’s post is courtesy of Camille Johnson and her excellent site The Bereaver. She addresses an important, and often avoided topic, which is grief. We’ve all suffered loss and a key to moving on in a healthy manner is to care for yourself as you move through the process.

Grief is a powerful emotion. It is often sudden and can cause intense reactions in even the

healthiest of people. Stress may leave you feeling numb, guilty, or angry, and it can even have a

negative effect on your immune system. However, no matter what you are grieving, taking care

of your physical health will help you get through and find the strength to prioritize your mental

health.

Healthy Aging

Although people of all ages lose loved ones, seniors are especially prone to suffering through

the loss of their spouse, partner, friends, and siblings. But, even when you’re in your 60s and

70s, John Holley argues that health is often a matter of living an active lifestyle, even if you don’t

always make great decisions. As a senior, losing someone can make you face your own

mortality. But, by taking good care of yourself now, you may be able to stave off some of the

effects of age and even add a few years to the life you have left. To stay healthy as you

navigate through the pain, make sure to eat a nutritious diet, exercise, and spend time with

other people that you love and that care for you. Now might also be the perfect time to adopt a

pet or pick up a hobby that you’ve always wanted to try.

Stress and Grief

The Bereaver has touched on the topic of stress and grief before. It is worth reiterating again

that stress puts you at a greater risk for depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. If

you are still in the workforce, you may find that your job is a significant disturbance to your

emotional well-being. During grief, you may feel as though your job is ultimately meaningless,

but, unfortunately, you still have bills to pay. Take a moment to evaluate your life both in and

outside of the office. Then, learn to establish boundaries, use your time more wisely, and set

expectations for yourself and for your job that help you see things realistically. Importantly, give

yourself permission to take breaks and step away.

Updates At Home

When we suffer through grief, we must never lose sight of the fact that we go on living. As such,

this means taking care of our homes and turning them into a place of respite and relaxation. The

Jar Of Lemons blog asserts that you can make your home healthier with simple actions, like

cleaning every day, adding decorations to make it your own, and opening the windows for

natural light and fresh air. At some point, we must also learn to let go of the physical reminders

of our loved one, particularly when you shared a home. While no one can tell you how long it’s

“okay” to grieve, your body and mind will know when it’s time to move forward. One thing to look

for is when seeing your loved one’s belongings keeps you in a place of misery. Items that no

longer serve a purpose in your home may be best purged so that you can both accept your loss

and continue moving forward in your own life.

There is no right way or wrong way to process grief. But, you do have to go on living, and part of

that means keeping yourself healthy through the bereavement process. The tips above can help

you take care of your body and mind, please don’t be afraid to seek counseling if you find that

you simply can’t move forward.