10 Routines & Remedies That Can Help to Persevere Through Grief-Related Depression
When a family member or loved-one passes away, it's only natural for our mental health to take a hit. We go through despair, and our minds do all they can to protect us from the profound pain of loss. Unfortunately, the sorrow of grief can also trigger depression. Unbearable, unshakeable depression. If finding the strength to carry on feels impossible, please know that you're not alone. There are things you can do to survive, revive, and completely reclaim your life from sadness.
You’re Going to Get Through This:
Clinical Psychologist/Family Therapist Barbara Okun explains that, “People suffering from major depression tend to be isolated, and feel disconnected from others. They may even shun sympathetic support or assistance. People who don’t get such support, or who avoid it, may be at greater risk for slipping into clinical depression throughout the grieving process.” Here are a few quick tips on how to fight against crippling depression during grief:
1. Acknowledge your Uncomfortable Feelings: It's okay to feel sad, angry, lost, and confused after the death of a loved one. Give yourself time to grieve, and don't insist on bottling up emotions.
2. Reach Out To your Support System: Talk to friends, family members, or a licensed therapist about how you're feeling. It can be a huge relief to share your burden with someone who cares about you.
3. Start Nourishing and Caring for your Body: Grief sometimes plunges people into an unkempt lifestyle. But it's still important to take care of your physical health as well. Eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, and get plenty of rest. Even something as small as a shower can make you feel better.
4. Avoid Making Major Life Decisions: If possible, try to put off major life decisions until you're feeling composed again. Grief can cloud judgment, so it's best to wait until you're thinking more clearly before taking on any big commitments.
5. Find a Creative Outlet: Expressing yourself through art, music, or writing can be a powerful way to work through frustrating grief. It can also be therapeutic to simply spend time in nature or surrounded by beauty and who knows, you may create something beautiful and find a new talent in the process.
6. Be Patient About Rebounding: Grief is a process, not a race. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, so feel free to go at your own pace. Don't be hard on yourself if you have good days, mixed with bad.
7. Seek Professional Help: If grief is proving too difficult to handle on your own, don't hesitate to seek professional help. A therapist can provide invaluable support and guidance during this difficult time.
8. Consider Medication: In some cases, depression can be so severe that medication is necessary. If you're considering this option, be sure to talk to a licensed doctor or a mental health professional first.
9. Join a Support Group: There are all sorts of support groups available for people who grieve the loss of a loved one. This can be a great way to connect with others who are going through similar experiences.
10. Embrace your Faith: If you subscribe to a religious or spiritual belief system, tap into your faith as a source of inspiration. Since time immemorial, faith has been a beacon of hope for people in hardship and faith does not have to necessarily mean religion.
It’s important to remember that grieving is a process, and it takes time. You may not feel like socializing or being around others, and that’s okay. Grieve in your own way, and at your own pace. But that being said, when the time is right, keep an open mind about reaching out for support when you need it. Talk to friends, family members, or even professionals if you could use a shoulder to cry on. Taking things one day at a time is the only way to chip away at depression, and begin to heal.
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