Helpful Guidelines for Grieving
After a loss, everyone must complete the 5 steps of grieving in order to heal and get on with their lives. Everyone will experience grief differently, some will heal faster than others.Here are some helpful hints on how to get through the steps of grieving and how to make the process less painful:
1. Reconize your loss – it is real, it has happened and you will get through it.
2. Allow yourself to feel the pain, let it out. Don’t deny it or try to cover it up.
3. Realize you are not alone. You are surrounded by many people who care, even if you feel alone right now.
4. Remember you are a great person. You are dealing with a lot right now. Never let the feelings of self-doubt creep in and discourage you.
5. Remember that nature has a beginning, a middle and an end. You must go on with your life.
6. Give yourself some time to heal. The bigger the loss, the longer it will take you to heal and get through it. Don’t be hard on yourself. Take your time, deal with it one day at a time.
7. The healing process involves taking one or two steps forward and one step backwards. This is normal. You will progress and then regress.
8. Hope and look forward to positive things in your life. Tomorrow is another better day.
9. Get a lot of rest. Your mind and body need to repair. Resting will give you the energy you need to be productive which will help heal your emotions.
10. Make and keep a schedule. Don’t let yourself become lethargic and become unorganized.
11. Seek support and comfort from your friend and even professional counselors. You need to heal an emotional wound which can be much deeper than a physical one.”
12. Don’t be afraid to let your emotions out, to feel the pain. Cry, let your anger out by physical activity or even hitting a pillow.
13. Surround yourself with people and things that are alive. Don’t isolate yourself even though you may feel like being alone.
14. Make sure you schedule activities for Sundays and Holiday. Even if you don’t feel like participating, make sure you become involved. Even if this is the most difficult part of healing.
15. Re affirm positive thoughts and beliefs. Life IS good, you are good, your friends and family love you. Things WILL get better, you will heal. Life will move on. You CAN get through this!
16. Create a personal tribute to your lost pet. Write a personal farewell, a poem, or write about your fond memories together. Have your tribute lasered on a Pet Memorial Headstone or on a Wooden Urn.