Grief comes in many shades and colors. On average, each of the 2.5 million deaths every year in the United States directly affects four people, each of whom has a unique way of dealing with bereavement based on gender, culture, personality, and age.
The loss of a parent can be like losing your life’s foundation. What do you do when the person you have known since the day you were born is suddenly no longer in your life? Coping with the loss of a parent can be difficult no matter how old you are and how well you got along. There are helpful ways to deal with this loss no matter your age.
Acceptance
When grieving the loss of a parent, remember it is okay to feel. It is normal to feel sad, angry, lonely, helpless, cheated, etc. Take the time to adapt to this change rather than try to control it: this is called acceptance. Try to continue with your daily routine as much as possible, taking each day one at a time. Having an attitude of acceptance after the death of a parent will help make the situation seem less stressful.
Take Care of Yourself
When the unthinkable happens, it can consume and take-over your life. Along with keeping your routine as normal as possible, do not forget to take care of yourself.
A long, drawn out death can be very draining on the family of the loved one passing away. All parties involved can and probably will feel both emotionally and physically exhausted by the time the person has passed. But being aware of your own impending death does have a benefit –being able to pre-plan the funeral or memorial process. Planning a funeral takes a lot of time, focus, and attention, and trying to plan one immediately after the death will only add unnecessary stress to an already difficult time. Pre-planning your own funeral may seem grim and upsetting, but it is far easier for your friends and family than trying to make arrangements when the grief of your passing has just set in.
Death and loss are unfortunate realities of the human condition. Everyone, with very few exceptions, will experience the loss of a friend, relative, or loved one at some point in their life. Grief is a common, expected, and necessary reaction to loss, and the way one expresses and experiences his or her grief will determine whether that person’s grieving process will have positive or negative long-term effects.
