9 Self-Care Strategies for Grief

"At 33, I lost my husband to advanced adrenal cancer. Despite my master's in social work, the resulting immense sadness, anxiety, and fear were overwhelming. His funeral, just before Thanksgiving, made the first holiday season excruciating. For three years, I coped by reading extensively about grief, which brought up my father's cancer death before my fifth birthday. This personal research evolved into global interviews with widows, from Montana to the Kibera slum, for my book, A Widow's Guide to Healing."

"A key finding was the profound isolation felt by the bereaved, especially during seasonal markers like the holidays. Approaching this time of year with dread, whether recently or years after a loss, is entirely normal. If this resonates, know you are not alone. I want to share nine practical coping strategies for the weeks ahead. When coping with loss, especially during challenging times like the holidays, adopting strategies for self-care and seeking support is vital."

"Treat your emotional capacity as a finite resource, like a cell phone battery. Be mindful of people and situations that deplete your energy or demand more than you can comfortably give. Monitor Your Emotional Level: Throughout the day, check in with yourself as often as you check your phone to gauge your emotional and energy state. These "self check-ins" help you know when to slow down and recharge. Simple ways to recharge include listening to music, talking to a supportive friend, or adjusting your schedule."

A woman lost her husband at 33 to advanced adrenal cancer and experienced intense sadness, anxiety, and fear despite holding a master's in social work. A funeral held just before Thanksgiving made the first holiday season excruciating. For three years she read extensively about grief, which resurfaced memories of her father's cancer death before her fifth birthday. Her research expanded into global interviews with widows from Montana to the Kibera slum and resulted in the book A Widow's Guide to Healing. Profound isolation is common among the bereaved, particularly around seasonal markers, and practical strategies focus on energy management, boundaries, self-check-ins, and choosing listeners wisely.

Read at Psychology Today