Coping With Grief: How Grief Impacts Mental Health & 4 Ways to Manage It by Dr. Teralyn Sell

Mental Health
2 years ago

Coping With Grief: How Grief Impacts Mental Health & 4 Ways to Manage It

Grief comes in many shapes and sizes. No one person grieves the same way. For many, the grieving process can be all too overwhelming – slowly taking hold of other aspects of their life, including our mental and physical health. Thankfully, there are healthy ways that you can manage and understand your grieving process while ensuring that you are prioritizing your overall well-being.

Grieving is a natural process that the majority of us will experience at least once in our lives. However, there are different types of grief that may have a bigger impact on our emotional well-being. The grieving process can take place when any type of loss occurs from death to divorce and everything in between. The key here is to recognize when over time you don’t feel like you are recovering very well and might need some kind of mental health intervention. Additionally, some people who have suffered unexpected traumatic grief may benefit from mental health treatment right away to avoid chronic suffering.

Here are my top tips to better equip ourselves and our loved ones for the grieving process and the toll that it can take:

  1. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Though we talk about the stages of grief as being linear, it is not. You can go through the stages and bounce around a little bit. That is ok. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. So let go of any grief-related expectations and allow yourself to grieve how you want, when you want.
  2. Take care of your physical health needs. When we get lost in our emotions, we often forget to do some very basic things like eating and sleeping. It is important to remind yourself to do those basic things as a way to fight off chronic stress. Additionally, blood sugar dysregulation will create an emotional roller coaster or exemplify the one you are already on.
  3. Be emotional support rather than a fixer. If your loved one is grieving, being an emotional support to them is key. Understanding that we cannot fix their grief is important, it relieves us of the idea that we need to do something. Instead, be an open door for them and listen to them emotionally without the need to fix it.
  4. Seek mental health treatment. If your grief is traumatic, or if you feel like you just can’t move through it after a period of time, go ahead and seek mental health treatment. You can see an individual therapist, go to a grief support group or even engage in trauma treatment. It is important to note that going to treatment will not take away memories of your loved one. Instead, it might help you move more toward understanding and acceptance. 

The content on 30Seconds.com is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered medical advice. The information on this site should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, and is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your personal healthcare provider. The opinions or views expressed on 30Seconds.com do not necessarily represent those of 30Seconds or any of its employees, corporate partners or affiliates.

Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community, and follow us on Facebook to get inspiration in your newsfeed daily. Inspire and be inspired.

Related Products on Amazon We Think You May Like:

30Second Mobile, Inc. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Calmerry – the Online Therapy Platform You Need to Know About: Here's How This Convenient Online Psychotherapy Service Makes Teletherapy Easy

How to Turn Grief Into Growth: Here Are 5 Steps to Help Move Forward & Grow After a Loss

​Connect With Spirit to Turn Despair Into Wonder: 4 Ways to Connect With Your Spiritual Guidance During Grief

How to Cope With Grief & Loss: 5 Mindful Ways of Coping With Grief

Tribe
This is so timely since 9/11 grief is hitting all over again.
Elisa Schmitz
So true about grief being highly individual and unique to each person. We need to respect how each other grieves. Thank you for sharing your insights with us, Dr. Teralyn Sell . We need these tips now more than ever.
DAC Developments
We should all remember this advice, it's good!

join discussion

Please login to comment.

recommended tips

Gluten-free Diets: 3 Things You Need to Know Before Going Gluten-Free

Food Allergies & Coronavirus: A Registered Dietitian's Guide to Food Insecurity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Skip the Potato Chips: How to Prep So You Grab Healthier Snacks!

The Health Benefits of Cinnamon: Why You Need to Sprinkle This Spice on Everything