Meaning-making can take you from a place where all you see is the bad that comes from loss to a place where you can start to see the “good.”
The Existential Crisis of Grief
In the last article we addressed the question of why. Which is a massive question. Why did they die? Why him? Why her? The other side of that coin is why not him? Why not her? Why not me?
Why Did They Die?
In the context of grief, the question of “why” can be one of the most infuriating thoughts that you come back to again and again. Discover the 3 challenges of “why” and how to face them.
Grief and Exercise
If you need a little push toward starting or restarting a routine of regular exercise, there is ever-mounting evidence showing that exercise doesn’t just promote physical health but mental health as well.
Are These Thoughts REALLY True?
This exercise isn’t meant to determine if a thought is good or bad just whether the thought is true and if it is useful.
Thoughts Dictate Emotions
If you’re bothered by specific behaviors that stem from emotional overwhelm it’s possible to better understand what and why you’re feeling the way you are by tracking your thoughts.
Death Guilt: I Feel Like It’s My Fault
There are commonly two root thoughts for the guilt felt after someone dies:
Why didn’t I …?
I never…
Letting Toxic People Go
Suddenly the bad behavior you previously tolerated from a friend, significant-other, or family member becomes completely intolerable because you no longer have the energy to explain it away or keep up the illusion that it doesn’t bother you.
How Did They Die: Preparing for Questions After Loss
You have every right to say, “Thank you for your concern, but I’d rather not talk about it right now.” You also have the right to say you’re “fine” when some colleague you hardly know asks how you’re doing.
No One Supports Me: Grief and Compassion Fatigue
Compassion fatigue sets in when someone becomes indifferent to your suffering because of the frequency of your need for support. It’s crappy, but it’s true. It’s also human nature.
Why Am I So Crabby?
When we are bereaved our fuse gets shorter and grace is a little harder to muster, so often we take offense to what other people say and are quick to snap back. I’m not here to invalidate your emotions or actions, but rather encourage you to take a breath and consider your reaction before responding.
When Will I Feel Normal After Someone Dies?
There is no simple answer to this question, because the old version of “normal life” ceases to exist along with the person who was lost. To feel normal again, survivors have to develop and accept a new version of what normal means, which can take months or years.
Four Tasks of Mourning
Grief theory can’t explain everything, but it may bring some insight you can relate to or otherwise shed some light on your grief experience.
Staying Healthy After Loss
Some physical symptoms of grief may be sticking around long enough to create a concern. This could be a good time to take stock of your health and wellness.
God and Grief
Religion and spirituality are not the main focus of Grief Compass, but we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge that they are a major influence on the way many people experience grief, and the way that grief can be complicated.
Work-Grief Balance
You’re not going back to work the same, though most people will expect you to. If at all possible take it easy and do your best to set reasonable expectations for yourself and clearly communicate them to your colleagues.
Grief Theory: Dual Process Model
The key idea around the Dual Process Model is that we don’t go one way through grief—following stages or tasks in a sequence over time—but instead that we oscillate (or bounce back and forth) between being “loss-oriented” and “restoration-oriented.”
The Politics of Their “Stuff”
Dealing with their “stuff” is one of the hardest things to face in the wake of loss. It’s also a harsh confrontation with the unnecessity of these items given the complete absence of the person to whom they belonged.
Survivor: Connecting to Past Losses
If you’re trying to understand your own grief, a good but difficult exercise is to look back on your own life, working back from now, and list out the losses you’ve experienced.
Go First, Say Their Name
With your grief, you’ve got enough of a burden and you shouldn’t have to be strapped with the additional responsibility of making it easier for others to interact with you, but if you can go first and offer this bit of grace to your friends and family, it can easily pay dividends in conversation that acknowledges your loved-one and your loss.