How To Function After The Funeral: The Messy Process Of Getting On With Life

Although losing a loved one can be completely overwhelming and seemingly impossible to handle, many modern places of work allow only a few days at best for bereavement. To make a living, some feel obligated to continue with life and get back to work the day after the funeral. If you are taken aback by the fast pace that grief is required to exist within, you are not alone. Here are some ways that you can handle the pain and function within the midst of your grief.

Accept that Designating Responsibilities is Key

You cannot do it all, and that is especially true when you are anywhere within the grieving process. When people offer to help, take them up on the generous offers that they extend. Not only does that help alleviate some of the responsibilities that you have, it is also allowing you to further connect with the people who want to be there for you. People want to help when you need it, and the kindnesses can help soothe the grief you feel, too. Designating responsibilities doesn't end with your loved ones. It's okay to do so at work, too. Do what you need to do to ensure that you are not stressed about other aspects of your life when you are trying to cope with a huge loss.

Take Time Away as Needed

Sometimes life can feel like a series of obligations. When someone is grieving the rituals of loss can totally overwhelm them out of the blue. Unfortunately, when this happens in the middle of a workday, it can be hard to hide. It's okay to bow out of lunch with your co-workers. You don't have to see your in-laws every weekend. When you are grieving, it's more important than ever to take time for yourself. Say no when you want to say no. Spend your time in any way that feels best for you. Take plenty of time away from others when you need to do so, but remember that connecting with others is okay even within the pain, too.

Seek Help from a Professional

Going to grief counseling is a great way to be proactive about your own health and well-being in the aftermath of a loss. Everyone can benefit from therapy after losing a loved one. Grief counseling allows you to have a haven for all your feelings during this time, and you can work through the pain and integrate it into your life with the caring help of a grief counselor.

Finally, keep in mind that there is no one roadmap to doing grief the "right way". Everybody experiences grief in a different way, and you are ready to carry on whenever you think that you are. You cannot predict how grief will show up. It's important to simply allow yourself to experience all the many shades of grief so that you can ultimately move through your time of bereavement. There will be deep joy again, but the way to get to that point is by first allowing yourself to feel all the pain and negative emotions that grieving can bring. From there, you can move towards a fully enjoyed, acting life even after a death.

Speak to a professional at a place like Brown Funeral Home for more information.