Grief – How to Support Yourself and Others

When faced with the death of a loved one, your grief may feel overwhelming. For almost 100 years, Boyd Funeral Home has helped families in Marion, Ohio get the bereavement care they need. We are here to help you cope and heal before or after a death occurs.

Our experienced staff is available to answer your questions about death and grieving. Contact us for information on grief support, check out these resources for help when dealing with grief.

Grief can take so many forms and you often don’t know how you’ll react until you’re living through it. That’s OK. There are no wrong or right ways to approach grief. All you can do is try to deal with your feelings in a way that feels right to you.

Practice self-care.

Eat a well-balanced diet and stay hydrated. Try to get enough rest and maintain good sleeping habits. In addition, exercise as you are able, even if it’s just a few minutes of deep breathing or walking around the house. All of these things enhance the ability of the body and mind to cope with painful grief emotions.

Be patient with yourself and know your feelings are valid.

The difficult feelings that wash over you like waves are normal, but you can’t be in the waves all the time without feeling like you are drowning. So, take a break from your grief by watching a movie, cleaning out that closet you’ve always said you were going to do, taking a walk, or reading a good book. Looking at family photo albums helps to reinforce happy memories. This may be a very bittersweet experience but pushing through the “bitter” allows the “sweet” to come to the forefront over time. 

Make an extra effort to reach out to family and friends.

Make sure to ask your family and friends for the support you need. Modern technology and social media have made it easier than ever to stay in touch. So, make a phone call or have a family gathering on a tele-video platform. 

Try to find a way to help others in order to find a sense of purpose and meaning.

Grief is hard to take on alone and you don’t need to (and often shouldn’t) go at it alone. Call others you know who may also be having a hard time just to check in or write cards or letters to send the old-fashioned way. Many people have made face masks or care packages to donate. If you are able, volunteer to run an errand for an elderly neighbor or family member or drop off a home-cooked meal or baked goods. Giving to others is a win-win situation. It helps others and it helps you to feel good about yourself.

Support your family, even the littlest ones.

Children may not understand the details and specifics, but they can often surprise you with their sensitivity and instinctual way of detecting grief. As the adult, you want to find ways to help them celebrate the life of your loved one and enjoy happy memories and stories.

The most important way to support your family is to simply listen to them and pay close attention to the feelings and needs of younger ones. If you sense any serious change in behavior, talk to them to try to get to the root of their feelings. 

For additional help, refer to this great resource from Sesame Street, which will help your family move forward in a healthy and educated manner.