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“After the death of my
grandson, I was so busy
doing things that had to
be done and trying to
comfort my daughter.
About six months later,
the full impact of his
death hit me, and I
became very depressed.”
LEARNING
TO ACCEPT YOUR LOSS
When Will These
Feelings End?
Although most people move through the stages of
grief in the same order, how long each stage lasts
is a personal matter. Other people can’t possibly
decide when it’s time. You have your own schedule
and expressions of grief, based on many things.
Your relationship with your loved one.
How close
you were to the one you lost, and how much you
depended on your loved one for support, will
generally affect how deeply you grieve.
The cause of death.
The sudden death of a loved
one is most often harder to accept than a death
that was expected due to ongoing illness.
Your personality and life experiences.
Men and women usually express grief differently
because of the way they were raised. Your own
upbringing and experiences will also influence how
you grieve.
Although you can’t control your feelings (and you
shouldn’t), you can take steps to make sure you
stay healthy during the grieving period.
•
Get extra rest
•
Eat well and exercise regularly
•
Avoid alcohol, drugs and other harmful substances
•
See your doctor if you see no improvement in your
physical or emotional condition after six months
How Will I Manage?
Learning to live without the person who died
seems unbearable. The hurt is so deep and so
strong, you may feel as if part of you died along
with your loved one. Will this feeling ever pass?
Yes, the grieving process itself provides relief.
Learning to accept your loss, no matter how
long it takes, is the final stage of grief and the
key to recovery. You’ll know you are nearing
the end when…
•
You have more good days than bad days
•
You can remember and talk about that
special person with more joy than sadness
•
You begin to find life interesting again and
look forward to the future
