16 MARCH 26, 2020 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
COPING WITH DEATH
Prescription for grief relief
“Oh to be a stone! To feel no grief!”
The Greek dramatist Euripides wrote
these words 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, fi nd a job.
• Stay fi t. 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 fl owers, gardening,
leisurely reading a newspaper,
etc. Then, try to engage in at least one of
these activities daily.
• Volunteer your time. Another
eff ective 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 fi nd your
way through this diffi cult, uncharted
experience.
Most survivors will fi nd 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
129
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