How to deal with grief – resources and support during your time of loss

Losing a loved one is one of life’s most difficult rites of passage. You plan the perfect sendoff for them to show your love, but when the casket is gone and you say your final goodbyes, you are left with your treasured memories of your loved one and the grief they bring.

Grief is a natural response to loss, and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. The hardest part of dealing with grief often comes when trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces and move forward after a devastating loss.

Here are some of the ways you can better process your grief...

Talk to someone

There is no need to bottle up your emotions. Open up to your spiritual advisor or any professional to talk about your feelings.

Reach out

Reach out to other people who knew the person you are mourning. This will help you realise that you are not alone in the journey, and talking to people who also loved the deceased person could help bring comfort.

Build a support structure

Surround yourself with friends and family who will be able to support and encourage you while you process your grief. Grief is also a happy time to remember those we have lost.

Watch out for unhealthy habits

Be mindful of harmful coping mechanisms you might be using to provide temporary relief, such as turning to drugs and alcohol.

If you need help or additional support processing your grief, here are some websites and support groups that offer help:

Khululeka grief support

They are a non-profit organisation specialising in mental health support programmes focusing on child and adolescent grief. The Cape Town-based organisation offers children and family grief support and training. Their website also has free helpful tools for working through grief with children, which can be found on https://khululeka.org/

Grief Share

The internationally renowned grief support and sharing group started in the US and now has a presence in South Africa. The Christ-centered support group offers seminars on dealing with grief. Support groups are available in all major cities across the country. More information can be found on their website https://www.griefshare.org/

The Compassionate Friends

They offer free counselling and support services to bereaved people. Their counsellors are available for one-on-one counselling over the phone or face-to-face counselling at their centre in Johannesburg. You can contact them at (011) 440-6322 or visit their website http://compassionatefriends.co.za. They also have a Facebook group where you can find support from other people dealing with loss.