Loss, Grief, and Recovery

When you're in the process of grieving, you may find that it's difficult to manage everyday self-care activities such as eating healthy and exercising. However, getting into a regular, steady routine can help you through this time in a positive way. Cleveland Health and Wellness Center can help you navigate the path.

Understand the Grieving Process

While grief is different for everyone, there are five stages of grief you should familiarize yourself with. According to psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, these include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. While no two people will go through these stages at the same pace or in the same way, as you start to recognize you are entering a new stage, it can be a signal that you’re healing and making your way through this difficult time in a normal and expected way.

Eat Nourishing Foods

Sometimes when people are grieving they end up having no appetite, or overindulging in comfort foods that are high in fat, sugar, and sodium. It's important to be intentional about your meal planning, whether that's shopping and prepping or asking others to provide you with healthy meals on a regular basis. Stick with lean proteins, whole grains, fresh produce, and lots of water. Resist the urge to partake in too much alcohol, as this can lead to a deeper degree of depression.

Move Your Body

You may not feel like going out for a run or going to the gym, but making a commitment to even just take a walk each day, outdoors if possible, will keep you in the world. You may stop and sit in silence or meditate or listen to music. Being out in nature can be helpful and healthy. Go with others if you'd like company, or go by yourself if you prefer solitude. Again, there is no right or wrong way to grieve, so take things at your own pace in your own time.

Seek Comfort

Spending time with loved ones, making sure that you're getting adequate sleep, and even adopting pets are all things you can do to help you make your way through this difficult time. You should also try to look ahead in a healthy way. Loss and mourning can make us recognize how short life is, and setting new personal goals can actually aid the healing process. For example, you may decide you want to reevaluate your career or go back to school. If you decide to pursue this path, spend some time looking for a school that's accredited and offers both a learning path you might enjoy, as well as competitive tuition rates.

Don’t Isolate

Grief can make you want to curl up in a ball in a dark room and shut out the world. While you should have grace with yourself in the early days, watch for signs that you’re disengaging from others. Create a routine. Take a shower and get dressed every day and be around other people, even if all you’re doing is sitting at a park or having a cup of coffee in a cafe. Life continues, and you need to be actively involved in your recovery.

Create Plans

Grief can make it feel like time is standing still, which can make you feel trapped in your sadness. Make small efforts to be forward-looking, whether it’s planning a dinner with a friend, taking up a new hobby, or scheduling a standing telephone or Zoom date with a close friend or family member. Talk about your sadness - processing out loud can help. A trained counselor can help you find a path through the forest.

Grief can be complex, and if you feel you’re stuck in a stage or are having overwhelmingly depressive thoughts, reach out to your therapist or primary care provider, or in the case of immediate need, dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Help is available.

Cleveland Health and Wellness Center specializes in compassionate mental health care for adults, adolescents, and children. In particular, clinicians are trained to treat depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, trauma, grief, stress, addiction, and relationship issues. Visit the site to learn more, or schedule an appointment.