Healing Through Grief: Taking Care of Your Mental Health | Solh Wellness

 Undoubtedly one of the most terrible experiences in life is losing someone or something you hold dear.

We may feel perplexed and adrift, unsure of how to move forward with our life when a key person, vital function, ability, or period of time is abruptly taken away. Grief is a normal process that affects everyone at some point, and it is the strong range of emotions that flood through us during these moments.

Grief for some people may feel like a heavy weight on their chest. Some people might experience feelings of emptiness, loneliness, confusion, tiredness, guilt, unbelief, or even anger. It's common for people to experience a combination of these feelings as they deal with the aftermath of a loss, and this variance is quite acceptable. It's critical to understand that everyone experiences grief differently and moves through it at their own time.

Although it's common to link sadness with the loss of a loved one, any significant loss that fundamentally impacts your life—especially if it happens suddenly—can cause you to go through the mourning process.

Life-changing occurrences that frequently cause grief include examples like:

• Relationships ending, including divorces

• Managing chronic or terminal conditions

• The passing of a large deal of time

• Losing your work or experiencing financial instability

• Changing over to retirement

• The passing of a cherished pet

• The breaking apart of a friendship

• Miscarriage occurring

• Feeling unsafe as a result of abuse or trauma

• Selling a family residence

It's simple to disregard your own wellbeing, particularly your mental health, when dealing with grief. This is especially true if you are surrounded by people who are also suffering and looking for help. However, neglecting your mental health increases your risk of developing illnesses like anxiety and depression. Making mental health a top priority is essential for navigating sorrow and starting the healing process.

Mental Health Strategies for Navigating Grief and Loss:

• Allow Yourself Time to Grieve: The process of grieving is complex, unpredictable, and exhausting. Understanding that mourning takes time is a vital part of coping with loss. The weight of sadness progressively lessens as you practice self-compassion and patience, and you start to regain the energy to continue. Since grief frequently comes in waves, be fair to yourself if you require extra time and support to move on.

• Seek Connection with Trusted Individuals: Many people find comfort in solitude as they work through their emotions after a loss. While reflection is important, too much alone can result in loneliness, which is bad for general health. When you're ready, get in touch with those who provide you a sense of security, such as friends, family, spiritual leaders, or neighbors. Even if there are few conversations, spending time together provides necessary solace and emotional nourishment.

• Attend to Your Physical Needs: Loss coping involves both physical and emotional aspects. Your physical health may suffer if eating, sleeping, or staying active are challenging for you. Recognize the connection between your body and mind, and make sure you're getting the basic needs like food, rest, and exercise satisfied. This will help to maintain your mental clarity and physical health

• Re-Engage in or Explore Hobbies: It's typical to lose interest in hobbies or social activities after a loss. However, finding a way to laugh while doing something you enjoy can help you deal with your loss. Taking the time to pursue your interests—whether they be cooking, gardening, writing, or painting—helps to sustain both mental and physical exercise. If your old activities no longer interest you, use the opportunity to try something new.

• Consult a Mental Health Professional: When something or someone important passes away, it can feel as though you've lost your direction. The course of life might abruptly change, making the future appear uncertain. This is a normal reaction, but spending a lot of time in mourning could mean you need more help. Speaking with a mental health expert gives you a forum to vent your emotions while getting the skills you need to forge your new course and start down the path to recovery.

Conclusion

Even among family members experiencing the same loss, grief is a deeply personal experience. It frequently occurs in waves or cycles, with powerful emotions lasting several hours or days, followed by intervals of comparatively normalcy. As you get used to the loss, these cycles could get easier with time. Adjusting doesn't mean you care less about the loss; rather, it means that as time goes on, you get used to grieving. Holidays and anniversaries may bring on pain for certain people, but by adjusting, you may approach these occasions from a different angle.

Since mental health is important, we at Solh Wellness have selected a variety of effective self-help techniques to improve your mental wellbeing. Our services include goal-setting, mood analysis, self-assessment tests, journaling, and access to a large library of enlightening content. Utilize our extensive self-help tools to take control of your path to mental health improvement and personal growth.