A person can experience a feeling of emptiness after the death of a family member or friend, retirement, divorce, the development of an illness, etc. All of these things have something in common: experiencing a sudden change that leaves you saying goodbye to a piece of your life that’s been constant for a very long time. Luckily, there are steps you can take to help you deal with the situation at hand.

Try Not to Fake It
When trying to cope with a loss, pretending that everything is okay can prolong this period of grief you may be feeling on the inside. Keeping your feelings bottled up can also contribute to unhealthy habits like excessive shopping, drinking, and isolation; none of which will make you feel any better in the long run of things.

Go Ahead and Grieve
The first step in finally coping with a loss is to acknowledge that something in your life has changed and let yourself grieve. Talking about this loss or change with people who are close to you can make moving forward that much easier. Even if the thing you lost was a huge part of your life, you can make each day easier by keeping friends and family close by to help you deal with it with comfort and support.

Exploring the Grieving Process
Grieving doesn’t just apply to the death of a loved one. This can be experienced with any major life event that will change your life significantly. Allowing yourself to properly grieve after each life event will help you dissolve any negative or mixed feelings you may have. If you have these negative feelings and refuse to let yourself grieve, these feelings won’t ever go away until you recognize and talk about them.

Coping with a loss is a difficult process, but it’s one that can be made easier by openly dealing with your issues. For other useful tips and information, visit our blog! If you’re interested in learning more, or visiting The Arbors Assisted Living community, schedule a tour by contacting one of our five convenient locations:

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