Shedding Light on Seasonal Affective Disorder: Finding Hope Through Therapy

The Grief Storm Of all of the normal human emotions, grief may be one of the most complex. Defined as a profound emotional response to a loss, grief may come due to the death of a loved one, the end of an important relationship, or a significant life change. Grief is sly. It tends to hide around corners and wait until the mourner lets their guard down to jump out and wash over them once more. Because of its unpredictability, healing from grief can be a long, exhausting process that can profoundly impact one’s mental health. There are, however, a few steps you can take to move through grieving in a healthier way. 1. Acknowledge Your Feelings Grief is a natural and necessary response to loss, and it's crucial to allow yourself to feel it fully. Acknowledge your emotions, whether they be sadness, anger, guilt, or even relief. (That last one’s a tough one!) Give yourself permission to grieve without judgment. Suppressing your feelings can lead to more significant problems down the road, so allow yourself to feel whatever it is that comes up, even (especially!) if it’s an unexpected emotion. 2. Seek Support Grieving alone is a great way to get yourself into a depressive pit. Reach out for support. Friends and family are a great first line of defense here, but it’s not uncommon for them to come up empty on helpful advice. If they haven’t experienced a similar loss, their words and actions may even hurt more than they help. Consider looking for support groups in your area. The power of a hearty “me too” from a stranger may provide more relief than words from friends. Regardless of who you reach out to, sharing your feelings with others can be a cathartic experience and can help you feel less isolated in your pain. 3. Consider Professional Help Sometimes, grief can become overwhelming, and you might find it helpful to seek guidance from a therapist or counselor. They can provide you with coping strategies, help you navigate your feelings, and offer a safe space to process your grief. Of all of the emotions, grief seems to make people the most uncomfortable. Most people just don’t know what to say! Professionals are trained to hold space for the intricacies of your grief, and they are not intimidated by the waves of emotion that you might be dealing with. 4. Create a Grief Journal Writing about your experiences and feelings can be incredibly therapeutic. A grief journal allows you to express your emotions and track your progress over time. There are no rules here. Write letters to your loved one. Be angry with them if you need to! Identify your emotions, document memories that come up, write poems or songs. Draw pictures or tape your favorite pictures into the journal. Documenting your grief journey is helpful in several ways. It gets the energy around the grief out of your body and onto the paper, and it provides material for you to look back on as you move through the process. Oftentimes, you will see progress by rereading your journal that you might miss if you aren’t writing about your experiences. 5. Maintain Self-Care During grief, self-care is essential. This means eating well, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. This is a tough one, because grieving can be physically draining. Taking care of yourself might feel like the very last thing you want to devote your energy to. Give yourself grace here. If all you can do for the day is take a shower, let that be a victory. Throw in a load of laundry, sweep the floor. And down the road, when you have a little more energy to give, challenge yourself to more complex forms of self-care like leaving your house, socializing, or making plans. It’s okay to take baby steps. 6. Embrace Ritual Creating meaningful rituals can be a healing way to remember and honor the person or thing you've lost. Lighting a candle, planting a tree, or holding a memorial service can provide a sense of closure and connection to the past. What’s one ritual you can create in remembrance of your loved one? 7. Set Realistic Goals Grief is not a linear process, and your healing will most likely not be orderly. It’s important that you set realistic expectations for your grieving. Some days will be better than others, and that's okay. Don't rush your healing or expect to "get over it" quickly. And you can set your watch by it: as soon as you think you’re “doing okay,” another wave of grief will come. You can have hope, however, that the waves will not come as frequently or be as intense as time passes. But let’s be honest, they may never go away completely. What you will do, instead, is learn to ride them when they come. Conclusion Dealing with grief is a deeply personal and unique experience. There's no one-size-fits-all solution, but the key is to approach it in healthy ways that help you heal and grow. Acknowledging your feelings, seeking support, and practicing self-care are all essential components of this process. Remember that grief is a journey, not a destination, and it's perfectly okay to take your time along the way. Through these healthy coping strategies, you can find the strength to navigate the storm of grief and emerge on the other side with a newfound sense of resilience and understanding. If you are struggling with grief, please contact us today to book a consultation.