Coping with Grief

We all are experiencing loss. We have temporarily lost our ability to move about the world freely.

We all have other losses – from minor losses such as vacations to major losses such as employment. Some of us even are experiencing the loss of loved ones.

Heart centered women with high empathy feel emotions deeply, including our own grief and the grief of those around us and the larger society.

Loss is an inevitable part of life and being able to experience our grief fully is part of the richness of being human.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross wrote about the five stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. We cycle in and out of the different stages, it isn’t a linear process.

But we also don’t want to get stuck in our grief. Research has shown that grief is hard on our immune systems and can make it difficult to think clearly, which we need to be able to do now.

Here are some ways to help with grief:

1) Designate a time each day for grieving. Set a timer for 10 minutes and write about your grief. Make a list of all the things about which you are sad, angry, frustrated, disappointed, etc.

2) Experience your feelings as fully as you can – immerse yourself in the sadness, cry, yell, hit a pillow, share with a loved one. If you need another ten minutes, set the timer again, but try not to go longer than twenty minutes.

3) Then shift to more positive brain chemistry, which will strengthen your immunity and your ability to think clearly. Some ways to do this:

- Gratitude shifts us from focusing on loss to focusing on all the blessings we’ve had and still do have.

- Laughter is one of the fastest ways to get healing chemicals flowing in our bodies.

- Write or tell someone a happy memory. Include all the details: Where are you? Who are you with? What are you doing? What do you see, hear, smell, taste, feel? As you immerse yourself in the scene your body creates happy, healing chemicals.

- Write or tell someone about your dreams for the future. Let your imagination run free. If there were no limits, five years from now what would your life look like? What would our world look like?

We will get through this time. We are stronger than we know. We can create a better world.

Please take good care of your precious self. Our world needs you!

Hugs,

Liz

P.S. If you continue to feel overwhelming grief, please reach out for the help you need, such as a trusted counselor or mental health hotline.