4 Ways to Move Forward After a Family Death

Dealing with the death of a loved one is one of the hardest things that most people will ever endure. Someone that you love has moved on and you have to deal with the fact that they are gone and the things that come with their loss. Funeral arrangements, estate settlements, and helping other family members can seem overwhelming. So what can you do to deal with your feelings in a healthy way?

Express Your Feelings

It may be tempting to bottle up your feelings and put on a brave face. People don’t like to let others see us cry or be weak, so you may be hesitant to talk about how you are really feeling. This is not healthy, and it is important that you find some way to open up and express yourself. Whether it is by talking to someone or writing it down or just talking to yourself, you need to have the chance to process your feelings.

Turn to the People You Love

Like bottling up your feelings, it can be tempting to isolate yourself. If your friends have not experienced the death of a family member before, they may not understand how you are feeling and it may be difficult to interact with them. But the rest of your family knows how you are feeling, so turn to them. Take the time to remember your loved one and to support each other as you struggle.

Keep Going

Even though this is a is a life-changing thing, you can’t let it throw your life out the window. You still need to go to school or work and keep going. It’s okay to take time off for grief , but don’t use that time to wallow. Keep up with your hobbies and any volunteer work. Your family member wouldn’t want your life to end just because of them, so don’t let this destroy you.

Take Care of Yourself

It’s going to take time to heal, so don’t forget to give yourself a break. Things may be really hard at the beginning, but it will get better, especially if you take care of yourself. Make sure you are eating healthy and continuing to exercise and get enough sleep. If you were appointed the executor of their estate or you are overwhelmed by probate proceedings, don’t be afraid to ask for help so you don’t get so stressed. These things may not seem that important, but if you don’t feel good, it will impede the emotional healing that needs to take place.

It’s never easy to deal with the death of a family member, and there is no one right way to deal with this. Make sure that you take time to express yourself and allow yourself time to heal. You don’t have to forget them, but don’t let your life stop just because of this.

References:
Coping with Grief and Loss
Dickson Frolich Law Firm
Moving Forward: Dealing with Grief
Grief and Loss: Self Care