Navigating Yourself Through Grief: Self-Care Strategies to Support Your Well-Being
It’s important to remember that grief is a natural, personal, and nonlinear journey. Sometimes we feel different emotions at different times, all at various intensities, which is okay. These unpredictable instances can be overwhelming, making it difficult to navigate our emotions. Self-care can help regulate our emotions, reduce stress and increase resilience during challenging times. It may not always be easy to prioritize self-care especially when we are coping with some form of loss. In this post, we cover how grief affects well-being, how self-care can help, and more.
How Grief Can Impact Our Well-Being
While grief can affect us in many ways, some examples include:
Sleep schedules, quality, and habits
How you eat or stomach issues we experience
Frequency of headaches
Trigger intense emotions such as sadness, anger, guilt, and anxiety
Concentration, memory, and decision-making.
Why Does Self-Care Matter When Grieving?
Self-care is crucial while navigating grief, as it can help to:
Promote a sense of calm by reducing stress and anxiety
Encourage healthy eating, exercising, and getting more sleep
Develop emotional resilience, enabling you to better cope with the challenges you face
Strategies to Try When Navigating Grief and Loss
There are many strategies to help support your well-being, including:
Practicing mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing, relaxation techniques or guided meditation, to calm your mind and body.
Engaging in gentle exercise, like yoga, walking, or swimming, to release endorphins and improve mood.
Exploring creative outlets, such as writing, painting, or music, to express and process your emotions.
Reaching out to friends, family, or a support group for emotional support and connection.
Practicing self-compassion by being kind, understanding, and patient with yourself as you navigate the grieving process.
Prioritizing rest and relaxation, allowing yourself time to recharge and recover from the emotional demands of grief.
Exploring therapy services in your area? TCC’s therapists are specialized in grief and loss and can help you if you're processing emotions. We’re currently accepting new clients across Canada.
Gentle Reminders When Implementing Self-Care
Grieving is a process, and the following can help:
Reflect on what you need to feel supported and comforted.
Practice saying no to things that are lower on your priority list and fill your time with things that bring you joy.
Make time for these activities in your daily or weekly routine. Break tasks into smaller pieces and be kind to yourself as you work through these smaller goals.
Reach out to friends, family, or a therapist for emotional support and guidance.
Explore ways to express your emotions in a healthy way! At the same time, be compassionate with yourself. Allow yourself to make mistakes, feel guilty and have bad days.
Conclusion
Remember, grief is a journey that requires patience, kindness, and compassion. By prioritizing self-care and incorporating activities that are suited to your unique situation, you can better navigate the challenges of grief and foster a sense of healing and resilience. However big or small, finding acts of self-care that are suitable, feasible and effective can be a useful tool for your journey. Remember that what works for some may not work for all. Be patient with yourself and give yourself grace as you navigate what works best to support you during these times.
Seeking further support? Feel free to reach out to The Cognitive Corner at info@thecognitivecorner.ca or get started by using our Therapist Matching Tool.
References
https://www.myfarewelling.com/article/the-journey-of-grief-understanding-its-non-linear-nature
https://vocal.media/psyche/self-care-b1zz80zam
https://www.hospiceandcommunitycare.org/wp-content/uploads/Extreme-Self-Care-on-Your-Grief-Journey.pdf