How To Deal With The Death Of A Loved One

The death of a loved one is the hardest thing you'll ever deal with in life. During and after the funeral, there seems to be an endless stream of tears, sleepless nights and sickness in the pit of your stomach. You wonder how you will ever go on without being able to touch, laugh with or talk to that person again.

While a period of mourning is normal, you may find that you've lost your appetite for weeks, you find yourself listless and unable to get out of bed, you're slowly withdrawing from friends and family, and the weight on your heart doesn't seem to go away. These signs may signal serious depression.

Before this sadness changes your personality in unimaginable ways, seek out support and help. After all, you shouldn't die, prematurely, with your loved one. You are still here for a reason.

Your friends and family can create a tremendous support net for you following the death and funeral for a friend or family member. Some people instinctively withdraw from others in their time of loss.

This can be hard for the comforters to understand, especially if the person grieving is a spouse. Be aware that people will genuinely want to comfort you, they want you to come to them for an embrace or to talk about your feelings.

The hardest part is feeling shut out and helpless. While it may not be the first thing on your mind or a natural tendency, when you're ready, accept the help of those around.

Open up to them by trying to recall fond memories of the person who has died. Sometimes there need not be any conversation at all, as the power of a hug is incredible at bolstering emotional strength. Even if you're not a "huggy" kind of person, the wounded soul seeks this kind of comfort.

Wakes are a good time to seek out a support system. Find others who are grieving as much as you - or even more than you - and bond together. Make arrangements to meet for lunch. Take trips to the gravesite together or flip through old photo albums.

It's comforting to know you are not alone in your grief. The death of a loved one can be traumatizing, more so than you initially realize, so it's important to deal with your feelings in a healthy manner.

You may have heard of drugs to treat depression once the death has set in and you feel a lingering sadness. If you find that your psychological grief begins to affect your physical health, eating or sleeping patterns, and your motivation to live, check with your doctor for various options.

Antidepressants like Effexor prevent the Seratonin from reuptake (meaning that your "happy chemicals" are encouraged to stay in your system longer) or like Wellbutrin which prevents Dopamine reuptake. Escitalopram, Sertraline, Venlafaxine and Paroxetine are all common antidepressant drug prescriptions. However, use drugs as a last-resort, as a 2007 study found that 25% of Americans were over-diagnosed for depression.

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