What to Do When Grief is Overwhelming?

Everyone experiences grief at some time in their life. When grief becomes overwhelming, there are a few steps to take.

Understand grief

People commonly go through stages of grief, and learning about these stages through therapy or personal research can be helpful. Understand that grief will subside. Also, understand that grief can be completely healthy and is not something to be embarrassed about. In addition, examine any other feelings that may be attached to the grief. For example, do you hold any resentments about your relationship with a person with whom you are no longer in a relationship or who has passed away? Do you feel betrayed, lonely, or afraid? Recognizing the thoughts and feelings associated with the grief can be an important step in coping with the grief.

Ask for Help

One thing that can make coping with grief easier is receiving support, and this is especially true when the person with whom you are grieving was a significant support person in your life. Since everyone has encountered grief in some form, whether by losing a job, a relationship, a family member, or a pet, it is something that others can relate to. Grief can often lead to depression, and depression can often lead to social isolation. Resist the urge to isolate and seek support. Therapy can also be highly beneficial, and there are grief groups often offered at hospice facilities.

Have Balance

A common mistake people make with grief is trying to move through the stages of grief too fast. They want to “get over it” and may tell themselves that they should be able to move on. Make sure not to push yourself to do more than you are ready to go. For example, if visiting a gravesite alone would be too much to handle, it may be best to go with a friend or postpone the cemetery trip. Also, you can honor the person's memories without obsessing about the person who is gone, so make sure you have balance, giving yourself time to distract yourself with entertainment and healthy self-care activities. Similarly, it is also important not to avoid the grief altogether by keeping yourself constantly distracted with work or other obligations; giving yourself some time to heal, and being patient with yourself, can help you cope with grief effectively.