Written by JamieLynn Gonzales, LCSW
Everyone experiences GRIEF at some point in their life. Grief is felt and expressed in different ways, but most importantly, THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY TO GRIEVE. This blog summarizes a post from Seph Fontaine Pennock, Co-Founder of PositivePsychology.com, and features information and coping skills from David Kessler, a world-renowned grief expert.
Grief is commonly associated with bereavement and is an emotion that can result from the loss of many things we value – a job, a relationship, an opportunity, material possessions, or a part of our identity. People often don’t recognize the sadness they are experiencing as grief and, as a result, label it differently and struggle to process the emotions.
The Kubler-Ross Model of the Five Stages of Grief suggests the interplay of Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance as the standard one experiences during a loss. There is no particular order, and one can switch between emotions throughout the grieving process. David Kessler introduced a sixth stage to which we can all relate and struggle, “Finding Meaning,” where people transform grief into a more peaceful and hopeful experience.
Ten things that can help with Grief
- Take a walk
- List your wins
- Engage in the bigger world
- Send love to your loved one
- Distract yourself
- Share your story
- Recognize something that continues
- Do something nice for yourself
- Write down three things you wanted to do in your life before they died
- Do something for someone else
Additional Recommendation:
Option B, by Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant, is a book that teaches how to deal with unavoidable adversity in life by using personal stories and scientific theory.
Are you experiencing grief and can’t seem to navigate through it? Speh Fontane Pennock suggests asking yourself, “Where could you find support you aren’t getting right now?” This actionable way allows you to reflect on your current support system and identify what options are available to meet your emotional needs.
If you need guidance and support through grief and loss, contact BeMeBetter at 505-293-2881 or info@bemebetter.com
Alternatively, you can submit an inquiry for services on BeMeBetter’s “Contact Us” page or email a provider directly from the “Who We Are” page.
