2.5 million people die in the U.S. every year. It’s estimated that each death leaves five people grieving.
So how do you handle the death of a family member? After the initial chaos of assets and funeral plans, here’s what might help you find sense in the void left behind.
- Discuss the Death
There are many things to tend to right after a loved one passes, and in the passing, it’s important to lose the most important part: talking about it.
Talking through the death of a close family member is hard. It’s hard to know how to deal with death. But simply talking about death is the first part of working through it.
As you make funeral arrangements and sort through assets and make plans, don’t forget to acknowledge the death itself. It’s hard, but talking about death is the first part of being okay working through it.
- Take Care of the Grieving
Perhaps it’s you who was most closely impacted by the loss. Make sure to surround yourself with people who can help you through the first few weeks of being alone.
But perhaps someone else was more left behind than you were. In the event of a death in the family, make sure those most directly impacted in their day-to-day lives have people to care for them. If there’s no one for them, it’s your job now.
Caring for the grieving can provide a sense of purpose in meaninglessness, and it’s a good way to show the dead you honor them.
- One Step at a Time
In the 1800s, it was a practice to “tell the bees” of major events in their beekeeper’s life, such as informing the hive of the keeper’s death.
While we don’t know how much the bees cared for this info, it gave grievers something important to do. Sometimes after a loss, a clear next step can provide a sense of direction.
- Get Help
Losing a family member is a tragedy that we very rarely are prepared to handle on our own. Therefore you must reach out to professionals.
This is a great time to start exploring counseling. Counseling can help you work through both your recent loss and any other trauma you may keep buries. Releasing it can help you heal.
Start looking for therapists in your area, or you can check out this link here to learn more about therapy retreats. Therapy retreats can offer many of the benefits of counseling in a more intensive, extended experience.
Grief After the Death of a Family Member Isn’t Endless
It may feel that the grief you feel after the death of a family member is all-consuming, but it will get easier as time passes.
As you manage the death in your family as best as you can, remember, be kind to yourself, be patient, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
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