Personal tragedy is an aspect of life that everyone will have to deal with at some point, but there is no preparing for the shock and pain of a traumatic event such as death. When your world is in complete disarray, it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and you may have to cope with physical symptoms of grief such as sleep disorders, loss of energy, and sickness. While it may be comforting that millions of people across the globe have been through the same process and survived, the formative stages of grief and loss can have a devastating impact on your home and personal life. However, looking after yourself, lowering stress levels, communicating, and diverting your attention away from everyday events can help.
Home life
Everybody deals with tragedy in a different way, and there is no right or wrong reaction in times of grief and hardship. However, the stages of grief, which can range from the initial shock and numbness to later feelings of anger, fear, guilt, and emotional outbursts, can have an impact on day-to-day home life. There is no denying that life can be very difficult in the days, weeks, and months following a personal tragedy, and you may find yourself becoming more detached and distant from close friends and family.
While feelings of denial and panic are common when trying to process terrible events in life, it is important to remain an open window to those around you. For some, outpourings of emotions and sadness are crucial to overcoming loss, while others may want to be more private, solemn, and withdrawn. Supporting others during this tough time can benefit everyone, including yourself, so try to find some common ground with a brother, sister, husband, or best friend so that you can communicate your feelings and make the first steps in moving forward with your life. There is no rush, no right or wrong – just offer each other support during the healing process.
Work life
Work can be put on hold for a few days, but you will eventually have to face up to the prospect of resuming your professional career. This may not be such a daunting prospect for some as many people prefer to keep their mind occupied when recovering from the impact of a personal tragedy. Throwing yourself into work may be an ideal remedy for pent up feelings and sadness. Experts believe that creative expression is one of the best means of coping with grief as you will be able to expend energy towards a healthy life choice and express your feelings in a productive and effective way. This improves your sense of wellbeing and can play a major role on the road to recovery and happiness.
Again, everyone is different, and you may find it more challenging to concentrate on an aspect of everyday life that may appear “meaningless” after the shock of a loss or death in the family. This is not out of the ordinary. Grief does not have a deadline and can be triggered again at any point in life. Anxiety and depression following a loss can make it tough to focus, and you may find yourself falling behind at work and under pressure for failing to meet targets. As difficult as it may seem, it is important to battle through these feelings. Try to be positive, and look towards achievable work and life goals and objectives and a brighter future.
Funeral planning
A funeral can be both a traumatic and therapeutic experience for friends and family. The run-up to the day can be particularly exhausting as you will be battling with many emotions while trying to organize an appropriate send-off. Fortunately, there are funeral services that can alleviate the stress and help relatives to honor their loved one in the best possible way. While a funeral can be incredibly sad, it can also bring a sense of closure, and you may finally be ready to look back at your life with a lost loved one with a smile, cherishing the good times, and looking towards the next chapter in your life rather than focusing on the pain and grief.
Acceptance
Renowned author Elisabeth Kübler-Rossstated that there are five stages of grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Each of these stages will give you a sense of meaning and purpose, and though it will take time to process loss and overcome it, you will grow as a person and become stronger for it.