Coping with grief after a fatal accident

After a fatal accident, often those closest to the victim are unsure of how to cope with the sudden loss. The grieving process is different for everyone, but here are some things to consider that could help.

Ways of coping

It’s important to know that everyone grieves differently. That means the process of healing from the pain and loss will be different for each person affected by the death. However, mental health professionals offer these recommendations to help you overcome the shock and confusion of losing a loved one:

• Work through your pain – Whether it’s discussing your feelings with a friend or therapist or crying by yourself, you need to allow yourself time to work through your pain and heal. Don’t deny your loss. Instead, use your support system to work through the grieving process.
• Allow yourself to experience your emotions – Many people try to hold in their feelings and isolate themselves from others after death. However, you need to know that your feelings are completely normal, and you don’t have to feel guilty for experiencing sadness, anger, frustration or even exhaustion.
• Take care of yourself – It’s easy to put aside your health in order to address your loss, but make sure to take time to eat a healthy meal, work out, sleep and take care of your mental health. It puts you in the right mindset to cope with your loss and keeps you healthy in the long term.
• Remember your loved one– There are ways to keep your loved one’s spirit alive. You could celebrate their legacy by framing pictures of them for your home, donating to their favorite charity under their name, or creating a memorial for them where others could visit and celebrate them.

Losing a close family member is one of the most difficult challenges that many of us will ever face. Remember that you are not alone, and that you can rely on friends, family and professional resources to help you get through this difficult period.