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Self-care during grief
When you're grieving, taking care of yourself might be the last thing on your mind. Everyone experiences loss and grief differently – some of us seek solitude, while others find comfort in company. Some throw themselves into staying busy, while others struggle to maintain their daily routine. Remember, there's no 'right way' to grieve – there's only what feels right for you.
While there's no set roadmap for navigating grief, there are some gentle ways you can support yourself through this difficult time. The ideas below may help you practice some much-needed self-care during grief.
1. Give yourself permission to talk about it
One of the most important aspects of self-care when grieving is allowing yourself to talk about your feelings. Share your thoughts with a trusted friend, or write them down in a journal. Talking about what happened helps make the reality of the loss sink in, especially in those early days when everything feels surreal.
2. Let the tears flow
As part of your self-care during grief, remember that crying is a natural and healing response. Tears actually help release stress-related chemicals and toxins from your body. They also trigger the release of endorphins which help calm us – that's why we often feel better after ‘a good cry’.
3. Be gentle with yourself
It's completely normal to feel out of sorts, unfocused and anxious about the changes ahead. Give yourself permission to 'not feel like yourself' for a while – it's an understandable response to loss, and an important part of self-care for grief.
4. Nurture your physical wellbeing
Simple acts of physical self-care when grieving can provide comfort. You might like to try:
- Taking a gentle walk in the fresh air
- Having a soothing bath
- Allowing yourself an afternoon nap
- Listening to calming music
- Eating nourishing meals
5. Choose your support carefully
Be mindful of well-meaning people who tell you how you 'should' feel, encourage you to suppress your emotions, or insist you need to ‘be strong’. These impossible expectations don't align with what we know about healthy grieving. Part of self-care for grief is protecting yourself from unhelpful advice and choosing what works for you.
6. Accept that grief can come in waves
There will be unexpected reminders that trigger thoughts and emotions, making you feel as if you're back at the beginning of your grief journey. Remember that grief isn't linear – these ups and downs are natural, and acknowledging them is part of self-care when grieving.
7. Reach out for support
One of the most powerful forms of self-care during grief is asking for help. There's absolutely no need to navigate this journey alone, and seeking support isn't a sign of weakness – it's a sign of strength. If you're feeling overwhelmed, consider reaching out to grief support services or counsellors who specialise in bereavement care.
Remember, self-care isn't selfish – it's essential. These self-care practices can help you process your loss and support your emotional wellbeing during this challenging time.
If you need immediate support, please speak with your GP or contact a grief counselling service in your area.
There’s comfort in simplicity
Our experienced team understand that keeping things simple is the best approach — especially during difficult times. If you need to plan a funeral, we can help.