How to manage grief and loss

Dealing with grief can affect every part of our life

The experience of grief and loss is something that can touch people of all ages. But the more time we spend on earth, the more losses we are likely to experience. The weight of these emotions of grief can often feel profound and insurmountable.

Here we look at the experience of grief and some strategies you could try to help you manage grief in your life.

What is grief?

Grief is the feeling of emotional loss that you get when you lose something important to you. Mostly, it’s used to describe losing a loved one. However, you can also experience grief after losing a pet, a divorce, an illness, a separation from family or friends or losing independence when you get older.

Grief can be different for everyone. It can also present differently at different points in your journey. You might be teary. You might show feelings of anger or frustration. You might be confused, shocked, numb, or anxious.

Everyone reacts to grief differently. Some people like to grieve privately and don’t want to leave the house. Others like to share their grief publicly or may use physical activity to cope. There is no right or wrong way to grieve as long as it doesn’t hurt the people around you.

Grief can affect every part of our life, including our behaviours, physical and mental health, beliefs, and relationships with others. Here we look at some ways to help you manage your grief.

1. Embrace your emotions

Grief is a complex emotional journey. It’s important to acknowledge and honour the range of feelings that might arise. Allow yourself to feel sadness, anger, confusion, and loneliness. When you embrace those emotions, it will set a foundation for the recovery process.

2. Seek support from loved ones

Many people like to grieve privately, and that’s ok. But it can be helpful to open up occasionally and share your feelings with your loved ones. If it’s someone they lost, they might also need to talk about how they’re feeling.

When you share stories and memories, it can open up a sense of connection and can bring comfort and solace. You can also talk about your feelings of grief with your Five Good Friends Helpers. We can provide a safe and comforting space for you to talk about your loss and some ways to help manage your grief.

3. Take care of yourself

One way to manage grief and loss is to take care of yourself. You need to make sure you eat well, have enough sleep and do gentle exercise like walking or yoga. It’s also important you continue to do things you enjoy, whether that’s catching up with friends, going to the movies or gardening.

Looking after both your physical and emotional wellbeing will give you the strength and resilience to get through the grieving process.

4. Honour and celebrate your loved one

It can be soothing to take part in traditional bereavement activities, like attending a funeral or memorial service or other social rituals. You might like to create your own rituals or traditions to help you remember your loved one. You could light a candle or create a memory box where you collate some of your favourite photos and memories. When you celebrate their life, you can help keep their spirit alive so you can take solace in the moments you shared.

5. Ask for some help

If you’re finding it hard to manage grief and loss, it’s important you ask for help. Grief can become overwhelming and, for some people, professional help can be an essential step towards healing.

You could consider reaching out to a grief counsellor or therapist. They can give you strategies to help you manage your grief and loss.

Some resources include:

• Griefline (Australia-wide grief helpline) 1300 845 745
• Lifeline (Australia-wide crisis support and suicide prevention service) 13 11 14
• The Compassionate Friends of Australia (supporting parents, siblings and grandparents after a child dies) - 1300 064 068

At Five Good Friends, we help people lead engaged and successful lives in the homes and communities they love. Get in touch with our team to find out how we can help you.

Learn more: How to find your purpose in retirement.