Coping with Grief: Finding Your Path to Healing

Grief is a deeply personal and often overwhelming experience. Whether you’re mourning the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, or a version of your life that no longer exists, the weight of loss can feel unbearable. There is no “right” way to grieve, but understanding the process and finding healthy ways to cope can help you navigate this difficult journey.

Understanding Grief

Grief is not a single emotion but a complex mix of feelings, including sadness, anger, guilt, confusion, and even relief. The well-known Kübler-Ross model outlines five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—but grief is not linear. You may experience these stages in different orders or revisit them multiple times.

It’s important to give yourself permission to feel whatever emotions arise. Suppressing grief doesn’t make it go away; in fact, it can make the healing process longer and more difficult.

Healthy Ways to Cope with Grief

1. Allow Yourself to Feel

It’s tempting to push grief aside, stay busy, or numb the pain, but allowing yourself to fully experience your emotions is crucial. Cry if you need to. Scream into a pillow. Write in a journal. Give yourself permission to grieve in whatever way feels natural to you.

2. Seek Support

Grief can feel isolating, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Lean on close friends, family members, or a support group. If talking about your feelings feels too overwhelming, sometimes just having someone sit with you in silence can be comforting.

If your grief is too heavy to bear alone, consider speaking with a therapist. Professional support can help you process emotions in a safe and structured way.

3. Take Care of Your Body

Grief can take a toll on your physical health. You might lose your appetite, have trouble sleeping, or experience fatigue. Even if it feels impossible, try to prioritize basic self-care—eat nourishing foods, drink water, rest when you can, and move your body in gentle ways.

4. Honor Your Loss

Creating rituals or finding ways to honor your loss can help with the healing process. Light a candle, create a memory box, write a letter, plant a tree, or celebrate special anniversaries in a meaningful way. Honoring your loss allows you to hold onto love while still moving forward.

5. Be Patient with Yourself

There is no timeline for grief. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting; it means learning how to carry your loss in a way that allows you to keep living. Some days will be harder than others. Give yourself grace and avoid comparing your journey to anyone else’s.

6. Find Small Moments of Joy

It may feel wrong to experience happiness after a deep loss, but finding small moments of joy—watching the sunset, listening to music, laughing at a memory—can be a vital part of healing. Over time, these moments can grow into a renewed sense of hope.

Final Thoughts

Grief never truly “goes away,” but it does evolve. With time, the pain softens, and you learn to carry it in a way that allows you to move forward. Whatever you’re going through, know that you are not alone, and healing is possible—one step at a time.

If you’re struggling with grief, please reach out for support. You don’t have to go through this alone. Contact us at Apricity at 651-348-8551 or email admin@apricitycw.com, or connect with a mental health professional near you. You deserve the care and support you need as you heal.

Written by: Mackenzie Kerber, MA, LPCC