by Kristie Janeway Jernigan BS MHA

Created on: June 04, 2009   Last Updated: July 20, 2009

The death of a close loved one is something that we all face at some point in our lives. During this time a grieving person can suffer from depression, anxiety and an inability to cope. There are various ways that a grieving person can work through this difficult period in their life. The use of counseling, physical therapy, playing games, physical activity and traveling can all be helpful in dealing with a loss.

Seek Counseling or Talk to Others

Dealing with the death of a loved one is unique to each individual. Everyone deals with this loss differently and everyone finds solace differently. The use of counseling is a great way of working through difficult feelings. Counseling can be done by a professional if the grief is profound. There are also support groups or even educational events that can help us understand and deal with our grief. You can get this information by simply calling your town's local hospital or hospice and speaking with a social worker. It is also very important to remember that simply opening up to other family and friends can provide a great deal of comfort to a grieving person. The simple act of discussing the deceased person's life and talking about the things that we liked or did not like about them can be very therapeutic. Learning to deal with the psychological and physical loss and remembering happy times can be very healing to the soul.

Play Games and Have Fun

Activities, games are another way to work through your grief. Many times taking time to take a walk through a park and enjoy the outdoors can help us deal with the stress and anxiety that we are feeling. Physical activity such as tennis or basketball can also help us work off some of the physical strain that grieving can place on our bodies. The activity also helps a person sleep better at night which can result in a more refreshed feeling in the morning.

Take Trips and Plan for the Future

In addition, traveling can be a wonderful way of dealing with loss. Looking forward to something special like taking a long awaited trip or cruise can be very beneficial. Taking time out for yourself, relaxing, visiting other cities and sightseeing can all take your mind off of the grief that you are feeling. It also helps a grieving person understand that there are things to look forward to and that there will be more enjoyments in life even though they have lost someone dear.

All of these tips can help someone successfully work through the grieving process. Being able to look forward to your future, participate in an activity, and talking to others about your loss are all very important aspects of grieving. The loss of a loved one is not something that we can ever forget but there are ways of dealing with the loss that can help us both psychologically and physically so that we can move forward in our lives.

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