Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious. Everyone has limits.
The single most important factor in healing is having the support of other people. Even if you aren’t comfortable talking about your feelings under normal circumstances, it’s important to express them when you’re grieving or experiencing anxiety or depression. Sharing your loss makes the burden of grief easier to carry. Sharing your emotions makes the weight of them easier to carry. Wherever the support comes from, accept it and do not grieve or experience anxiety or depression alone. Connecting to others will help you heal.
Finding support after a loss
- Turn to friends and family members – Now is the time to lean on the people who care about you, even if you take pride in being strong and self-sufficient. Draw loved ones close, rather than avoiding them, and accept the assistance that’s offered. Oftentimes, people want to help but don’t know how, so tell them what you need – whether it’s a shoulder to cry on or help with funeral arrangements.
- Draw comfort from your faith – If you follow a religious tradition, embrace the comfort its mourning rituals can provide. Spiritual activities that are meaningful to you – such as praying, meditating, or going to church – can offer solace. If you’re questioning your faith in the wake of the loss, talk to a clergy member or others in your religious community.
- Join a support group – Grief can feel very lonely, even when you have loved ones around. Sharing your sorrow with others who have experienced similar losses can help. To find a bereavement support group in your area, contact local hospitals, hospices, funeral homes, and counseling centers.
If you recognize any of the below symptoms of complicated grief or clinical depression, talk to a mental health professional right away. Left untreated, complicated grief and depression can lead to significant emotional damage, life-threatening health problems, and even suicide. But treatment can help you get better.
Contact a counsellor or professional therapist if you:
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- Feel like life isn’t worth living
- Blame yourself for a loss or for failing to prevent it
- Feel numb and disconnected from others for more than a few weeks
- Are having difficulty trusting others
- Are unable to perform your normal daily activities
Other supports available within our region:
