When we lose a loved one, it often happens quickly and unexpectedly. It can come as a shock and if we’ve never really lost anyone, then we may not know how to deal with it. Loss can be anything from a loved one passing away to a friendship ending. For different people there are different ways of coping. Here are a few ways that have helped me recently deal with the loss of a loved one.
1. Distraction
Distracting ourselves may help you in the short term. It’s definitely not a long-term solution for coping, but if we just don’t have time or we’re in the middle something, then distracting ourselves can help. There are endless possibilities for distraction: reading a book, watching a movie or something on TV, playing a game, hanging out with friends, doing homework… our only limit is our imagination.
2. Find ways to remember our loved ones
This can be painful, but sometimes it’s necessary for finding closure. Remembering our loved ones is important, even if it is painful. This can be done through writing, looking at pictures, hiking, or some other therapeutic way you’re comfortable with.
3. Move on
Probably the worst part of the process of dealing with loss is moving on. We shouldn’t forget those we’ve lost, but we also can’t let the rest of our lives waste away. We can never replace a loved one, but we can honor them by living life to the fullest, remembering them as they were and the good times you shared together. As Napoleon Bonaparte said, “Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily.”