Ways to Comfort Grief

Grief is a natural way of responding to a loss, which can come in many forms, but particularly the loss of a loved one. Grief is an aspect of healing and it's important to allow yourself to feel the emotions that are experienced through grief. Yet, if your grief intensifies and can't be alleviated through help, counseling should be sought to identify whether you're suffering from depression.

Talk

• FInd someone to confide in.

  Talk about the person you lost. According to the Mayo Clinic, it can help to surround yourself with loved ones who'll support your talking of your lost loved one. Support groups or consulting with your pastor may also help relieve symptoms felt with grief.

Expression

• Find a way to get the emotions out.

  Writing down your thoughts in a journal can help you cope with your loss. Crying may help to alleviate sudden emotions brought on my memories of your loved one. Being empathetic to a friend who has experienced a loss can make your friend feel like she's not alone. Listening to your friend can also help her work through her emotions.

Memories

• FInd an outlet to help you cope.

  Though you have experienced a loss, you can keep your loved one's memory alive. If your loved one passed from cancer, engaging in activities such as cancer walks can help honor the person. Donating to organizations or planting a garden can also be comforting.

Finding Strength

• Grief is experienced differently in relationships.

  If you and your partner are experiencing grief together, you may feel overwhelmed. Grief can place stress on relationships. Everyone copes with grief differently and it may be hard to comfort each other if you grieve differently. Finding a way to compromise how you experience grief can help you move forward.

Coping

• Certain days that can include holidays or birthdays may make you dread the events. If you prepare yourself for the event, you can find comfort in knowing that you can find a way to honor your loved one, instead of feeling a sense of pain.