Healing after loss can feel like an endless journey, one that takes unexpected turns and feels like it leads to shadowed places where light cannot breach. Loss comes in many ways – the death of a close family member or beloved pet, the end of a lifelong friendship – but how we react is different for every person. While life without your loved one can be full of ups and downs, there are some holistic healing ideas and techniques to help you learn how to recover from grief, and how to put your mental and behavioral health first as you find a way forward.
How to Recover from Grief
Acknowledge Your Emotions
Anger, sadness, guilt … grief comes with many complex emotions. Though your first instinct may be to hide from these emotions, running from them won’t serve you well in the long run. Mindfully acknowledging your emotions can help you work through your grief in a healthier way, allowing you to notice when an uncomfortable feeling comes up, identify it, and find a healthy outlet rather than locking yourself away in dark thoughts. This can mean journaling, taking a walk, talking to a friend, or even simply letting yourself cry.
Connect with Loved Ones
Sometimes, wading through grief feels impossible to do alone. Your friends and family members can be wonderful sources of support and joy throughout your healing process. While it can be difficult to lean on others, don’t hesitate to ask for help. This is true whether you need a momentary distraction or someone to talk to when memories are too tough to bear. Going shopping, talking over coffee, cooking together, or even just enjoying each other’s company can be the support you need on a dark day.
Set Boundaries
Boundaries are integral to any healing journey, so don’t be afraid to set them. These boundaries might look like declining an invitation when you’re not feeling up to it or stating that you don’t want to talk about your loss. You make the rules in your healing journey, but making these rules can be challenging. A therapist can help you practice boundary setting and identify areas in your life where you might need a boundary.
Simplify Your Self-Care
Basic self-care often comes last when you’re dealing with loss. However, prioritizing your well-being is essential, and is never selfish in your journey toward recovering from grief. Remember that you don’t need to book spa days or buy lavish bath products to practice self-care. Even just taking a shower, putting on your favorite outfit, or cooking yourself a healthy meal can be a self-care victory while you’re healing. Try taking a walk in nature or re-reading your favorite book, playing fetch with your pup or watching a funny movie. These small moments of self-care can make all the difference.
Accept Joy
After experiencing a loss, you might feel guilty for feeling joy from the good moments happening in your life. Know and acknowlege that moments of joy will fuel you as you move forward. Work with your counselor to let go of this guilt and embrace joy when you can. Eventually, you’ll find yourself accepting joy more often and more readily.
Talk to a Therapist
Remember that you don’t need to work through your emotions on your own. Individual therapy can be a great resource for processing your grief, building coping strategies, and learning not only how to recover from grief, but how to believe doing so is possible. Counseling appointments provide a safe and confidential environment for you to be open about your struggles. Your therapist may also recommend group therapy activities to empathize with others and make meaningful connections.
If you’ve recently experienced a loss, the therapists at SOL Mental Health are here to help. Our compassionate team of mental health professionals offer specialty counseling services in a variety of areas, including how to recover from grief and navigate the difficult emotions surrounding loss. We design our counseling solutions with a holistic approach, helping you grow and thrive. Contact us today to get started.
Does My Insurance Cover a Therapist at SOL Mental Health?
SOL Mental Health is partnered with several insurance providers to make our services more accessible to you. You can verify your insurance through our website before scheduling an appointment.