It is difficult to characterize the events of the past few years otherwise than as complex and painful.
So, how are we going to move into this new year if we don’t feel “finished” with last year? Here we will consider grief, deal with loss, and move forward.
Grief is defined as a natural response to the loss of someone or something important to you. The grieving process consists of several steps, and each step focuses on a different emotion.
Losing someone or something important to you can be really hard to come to terms with, and dealing with these various emotions can be difficult on your own.
One thing to remember about grief is that it looks different for everyone. There is no right way to grieve and no timeline for how long it will or should last.
“Add a global pandemic to that and it can be especially challenging,” said Sherri Randles, director of crisis services at Centerstone. “Even some important mourning rituals have been taken away from us, such as memorial services and even the mere physical presence of a hug.”
In our rapidly changing society, there is a temptation to quickly “get over it” and move on. But it is very important to remember that you must be patient with yourself. If you want to adequately deal with your grief, give yourself time and grace, especially after a year filled with hardships and setbacks.
The first step to dealing with grief is to acknowledge the grief you feel and allow yourself to feel it. Try to come to terms with these emotions, no matter how uncomfortable they may seem. While it may be preferable to try to forget what happened, pushing your emotions away can lead to other barriers that may prevent you from getting over this grief.
“Avoidance is a defense mechanism we sometimes use to protect ourselves from grief, but it eventually rears its ugly head and can erupt when you least expect it,” said Megan Williams, director of suicide prevention at Centerstone. .
When dealing with grief, it is essential that the person acknowledges the emotions and feelings and does not ignore them. The best way to do this is to talk about them with someone. You can talk to a trusted friend, family member, mentor, or mental health professional.
Always be honest and try to put your feelings into words so that both of you can understand where you are in the grieving process.
There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and remember that your feelings are valid. When you experience grief, it can be a painful process, but it’s important to work through these emotions with other people and actively process them in order to start moving forward.
If you need help coping with grief, remember that Centerstone can help by calling 877-467-3123.
Megan Williams is the Director of Suicide Prevention Services at Centerstone and Sherry Randles is the Director of Crisis Services at Centerstone. They wrote this column naming August 30 as National Mountain Awareness Day. Send comments [email protected]