PRESCRIPTION FOR GRIEF RELIEF
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JULY 31-AUG. 6, 2020 19
The Greek dramatist Euripides
wrote the words
“oh to be a stone! To feel
no grief” 400 years before
the birth of Christ. Grief
is the price of love. When we
love someone and they die, we
feel the pain of grief. However,
there are steps we can take
that may ease the stress and
hasten our recovery.
Here are some tips that can
help the bereaved on their journey
through grief:
Go back to work. If you had
a job, return as soon as possible.
Work is a healthy distraction
from the pain of loss. If you were
not in the workplace, find a job.
Stay fit. Exercise can help you
both physically and emotionally
because activity provides an outlet
for stress.
Enroll in a class. Not only
does taking a class provide you
with a healthy diversion from
grief but it also can supply practical
knowledge for improving the
quality of your life.
Be good to yourself. Do not
hesitate to treat yourself to something
you truly enjoy.
Take some time to write
down a list of things that bring
you pleasure such as displaying
a vase of fresh flowers, gardening,
leisurely reading a newspaper,
etc. Then, try to engage in at
least one of these activities daily.
Volunteer your time. Another
effective way to get out
of the house and provide some
grief relief is through volunteering.
Local community groups
or museums and historic sites
always welcome people who can
spare some time to support their
activities.
Talk about your grief with a
friend. Expressing and exploring
your feelings with a trusted
friend is one of the best things
you can do for yourself. Talking
helps relieve the pressure, brings
you perspective, and keeps you
in touch with others. Cry when
you feel like it.
Read practical articles and
books about grief. Reading about
bereavement is an excellent way
to find your way through this
difficult, uncharted experience.
Guide your thinking. According
to Laurence G. Boldt, author
of Zen Soup: “’Thoughts,’ as Emerson
put it, ‘rule the world’ for
the simple reason that thoughts
determine feelings and actions.
We can think ourselves into happiness
or a deep depression. We
can think ourselves into health
or illness. If we only take care of
our thoughts, our feelings and
actions will take care of themselves.”
Cultivate hope on a daily basis.
When the days seem too long,
the nights endless and hope a distant
memory, rinse your mind
and fortify your spirit by reflecting
on words of hope. Though
your journey through grief may
seem dark, the light of recovery
will break through.
Most survivors will find solace
in these suggestions. But if
you feel that your grief is overwhelming
your life, ask your
family funeral director for the
name of a local bereavement
counselor who can guide you
through resolving your feelings
of sadness and loss.
Material in this column was
excerpted (with permission)
from an article authored by Victor
M. Parachin, a National Funeral
Directors Association grief
educator and minister.
Courtesy of NYS Funeral
Directors Association
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