National Grief Awareness Day recognizes that the time it takes to heal from loss doesn’t have a prescribed course and is a reminder that closure comes in many forms. When a loved one dies, the void they leave affects everyone differently.

Throughout the day, take notice of those in your life who have been affected by a form of loss. The death of a loved one, a close friend or enduring an extreme change in their lifestyle can trigger grief. When we lose the stability of shelter, a job or a routine we have known for years, we suffer a type of loss that requires closure. Some adjust to these changes easily, and others take time to become familiar with new routines.

The Behavioral Health Staff at the St. George Medical Clinic offers those grieving seven things to remember when trying to cope with a loss.

1. It will not last forever. Try to find support, take care of yourself, and allow it to go. Support could come from a friend, family, pastor, or a Behavioral Health Staff member here at St. George Clinic.
2. You can handle it even when you feel like you can’t. It is human nature to want to avoid painful experiences. When we lose someone important to us, we may feel like we will not be able to cope with the pain of grief. But “we can only learn about our ways of dealing with things by moving through them” says Dr. Michelle Cardi, Staff Psychologist, from St. George Behavioral Health.
3. Be gentle with yourself. Grief is exhausting. Take care of your body. Make time for yourself. Nap, eat, and drink plenty of water. Alcohol and sugar are quick fixes, but they can have bad effects on you.
4. Think in cycles, not lines. If you have reached a point where you are feeling good only to feel bad again, it is not a sign you have relapsed or gotten worse. It is how grief works, and it is a forward movement. Grief is a series. You will start to cry when you are calm, then you will circle back.
5. Your feelings are normal. The pain of grief itself is hard and it is more challenging when other people tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. Allow yourself to feel whatever you feel; anger, sadness or even relief. Everyone has their own feelings at any time.
6. There is no getting over the loss of a loved one. You just move forward in your own way.
7. You are not alone. There are people here for you. Our staff in the Behavioral Health department can provide specialized care for you and your grieving family in a group or individual setting. Call us today at 304-478-3339. You do not have to be alone.