Coping with your mental health while dealing with loss

 Dealing with Loss- during lockdown 

Source- Bernados website

• Rebuilding and reimagining their life without a loved one isn’t an overnight process. 
• May not have closure or comforting company of friends and family 

Ways to deal with it

1. Stay connected - although being in lockdown or having to isolate from loved ones can be lonely, calling someone or texting someone daily can help improve your mental health massively
2. Get exercise- go outside, take a walk everyday, find a new hobby 
3. Help others struggling- sending flowers, messaging them, helping each other by grieving together- You’re not alone!
4. Talk to a councillor- sometimes it’s easier to talk to a stranger, someone who’s not associated with the situation, someone who can see another perspective 
5. Some psychologists have moved away from the idea of “letting go” and have changed it to “continuing bonds”. This means that some people who keep a connection with the deceased becomes a health part of life after loss. Things such as letters to them, talking to them (out loud or in your head) keeping photos of them around, talking about them to new people in your life, can play a part in a healthy life after losing someone.

Source- NHS website 

Symptoms of Bereavement, grief and loss 

• Shock and numbness, this is usually the first reaction to loss- people talk about being in a daze 
• Overwhelming sadness, with lots of crying 
• Tiredness or exhaustion 
• Anger- towards the person you lost or the reason for it 
• Guilt- guilt about feeling angry, something you said or did not say or not being able to stop your loved one from dying 

DONT 

• Try to do everything at once, set little targets that can easily achieve 
• Don’t focus on things you can’t change. Focus time and energy into helping yourself feel better 
• Try not to tell yourself you’re alone- most people feel grief after a loss and support is available 
• Try not to use alcohol, cigarettes, gambling or drugs to relief grief- these can contribute to poor mental health 

Stages of Bereavement 

1. Accepting your loss is real 
2. Experiencing pain or grief 
3. Adjusting to life with that person 
4. Putting less emotional energy into grieving and putting it to something new 

Ways to feel happier 

• Manage stress levels

1. Learn time management *
2. Regular exercise 
3. Breathing exercises for stress  

* - work out your goals 

- make a list 

- focus on results- not about quantity but about quality 

-have a break in a work day 

-prioritise important tasks; urgent and important, not urgent but important, urgent but not important, not urgent and not important 

• Enjoy Yourself

- simple activities; having a bath, watching sports, meeting up with friends, cooking, dancing 

-avoid things that seem enjoyable at the time but makes you feel worse after

• Boost your self esteem 

- treat yourself as you would treat a friend- positive and honest way 

- notice when you’re putting yourself down 

• Have a healthy lifestyle 

- limit alcohol intake 

- choose a well balanced diet 

-do exercise 

- get enough sleep 

- talk and share 

• Build your resistance- allows you to cope with life’s ups and downs, making something worthwhile out of something painful helps your resistance grow