Grief & Loss | rainorshine

Grief & Bereavement

Losing a loved one is one of life’s most difficult experiences. The emotions that coincide with bereavement can be very intense. Your emotions may vary from day to day or even minute to minute.

Be kind to yourself. Give yourself permission to grieve and take time for yourself.

Drink water, try to eat healthy, and try to get a good night's rest.

If you are having trouble sleeping- Try waking up and going to sleep at the same time every day. Get sunlight during the day and engage in a sacred, quiet routine before bedtime. This might include dimming the lights in the house, turning of the television and your cellphone, drinking herbal decaf tea, getting into a cozy robe or blanket, listening to soft relaxing music or white noise, engaging in prayer, mindfulness, or repeating gentle thoughts in your mind, etc.

Engage in relaxation breathing techniques and try your best to move your body. Take a walk or engage in gentle yoga. These are some ways to release tension and pain associated with grief. Engage in healthy hobbies or activities that bring you joy. When you are comfortable and ready, connect with others- humans and/or animals. This can be a great way to support your mental health.

Seek a therapist you trust. If you haven’t tried art therapy before this can be a great time to try. Many individuals find art therapy to be a less intimidating form of therapy as grief and emotions can be extremely difficult to describe in words. Creative expression helps you release those thoughts and emotions into a tangible product where you process the art and the creative experience together with your therapist.

No skill or experience in art is necessary! Many licensed creative arts therapists utilize a variety of modalities; poetry, mindfulness, movement, visual art, music, gardening, etc. Art therapists are highly educated in psychological theories and approaches and are trained to choose specific materials and adapt directives specific to your goals and needs.

Art therapy can help you process your grief, help make sense of your emotions, assist you in finding healthy ways to cope and, engage in directives that are meaningful.

To learn more about art therapy visit:

https://arttherapy.org/

https://www.nyarttherapy.org/

Express yourself creatively! Spend time journaling, creating collages, coloring, painting, etc. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be creative- expressing yourself through art can be very healing and transformative. You can even use this as an opportunity to process your grief or honor your loved one.

You can create a memorial piece of some kind to look at, place inside or outside in a beautiful place, as a reminder of the memories and the reasons you love this person.

Examples:

Paint a rock with their name, a positive message, or a memory.
Write a letter to your lost loved one sharing your thoughts, positive, negative, whatever emotions and thoughts you are feeling is fine and healthy!
You can use articles of their clothing to create a special quilt, pillowcase, small

Using milestones or anniversary’s to not remember the sadness of their loss but to honor your loved one and enjoy the pleasant and happy things. This could include enjoying their favorite food, snack, or beverage on those special days.

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