Tips on Coping with the Shock of Grief

Death can sometimes creep up on us, strike when we least expect. So how do we cope with the grief  

S = Shock occurs because we just don’t understand why…the only reason is that as humans we are born, we live and at some point we die. The timing can be any time. In reality there is never a good time, it was just their time.

H = Hope. You will doubt your ability to cope – that is normal. However, look around there are many people touched by death. They should give you hope that despite the pain, despite the overwhelming emotion, you will come through and learn to live with the grief.

O = Offers of help will be there. Don’t feel that you have to do everything yourself. Others are grieving, they can’t bring your loved one back but they can help you – let them help as a way of them supporting you through your bereavement.

C = Coping does not mean ignoring our emotions. We need to let those emotions out. Coping means understanding the grief cycle and allowing yourself to grieve not blocking our emotions out.

K = Know that shock is the heart’s way of coping. Our heart is a precious gift. Shock gives our heart space to come to terms with our grief.

[photo by istockphoto]