• How to Cope with Unexpected Loss

    When bidding a good friend or family member goodbye after a mid-week rendezvous, you don’t expect “call me soon” or “see you next week” to be a final farewell. When that casual goodbye turns out to be the last, accepting your loved one’s sudden passing can be exceptionally hard. If someone you love has just passed away in an untimely manner, leaving you to cope with the loss and plan your loved one’s funeral , consider the following.

    Grief Counseling

    Remember that Grief Is Personal

    Grief is a highly personal process. While in mourning, you will experience an array of strong emotions. It is important to remind yourself that this is natural, and you should allow yourself to feel these emotions. The stages of grief cannot be rushed or avoided, even if you know that your life will someday regain some semblance of normality.

    Turn to People Who Care

    Your friends and relatives care about you. If you feel like talking about your loss , confide in a close friend or family member. Your wellbeing is important to those who love you, and you should not be afraid to ask them for help when you feel overwhelmed.

    Take Care of Yourself

    Making an effort to stay physically healthy while you mourn will make your feelings much easier to cope with. Though sleeping problems and loss of appetite are common side effects of grief, it is important that you do your best to battle these effects. Try to eat healthy meals, drink water, and allow yourself to spend at least six or seven hours in bed every night.

    If you are the next of kin of the individual whose loss you are mourning, you may also be responsible for planning a funeral during your time of grief. Serving the East Bay, Chapel of the Chimes Oakland can provide any funeral planning assistance you need. To speak with a caring, compassionate, and experienced funeral services provider during your time of need, call (510) 654-0123.

  • Signs and Symptoms Associated with Grief

    Grief is common emotion, but there is no “normal” way to experience it, nor is there a standard timetable for how long it takes to lessen in severity. It can often be overwhelming to cope with the void left by the loss of a loved one, but recognizing the common hallmarks of grief can help you make sense of your own emotions and aid in the recovery process.

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    Physical Pain

    Intense emotions often have a noticeable impact physical health. Acute grief can cause health effects such as insomnia, heaviness, and aches and pains. Indirect health issues can also arise from a lack of appetite or overall fatigue. Even if you have you have your own way of dealing with your emotions away from others, it is important to seek professional grief counseling if you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts, intense feelings of guilt, and feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness.

    Emotional Anxieties

    While not everyone feels or expresses emotions the same way, feelings of worry, anxiety, anger, and guilt are universal after a major loss. Contrary to popular belief, grief does not necessarily proceed in stages (denial, anger, bargaining, etc.), but is a lifelong process that can strike unexpectedly. There is no right or wrong way to cope, but it is important to recognize them and deal with them in a healthy and productive manner.

    Social Detachment

    A major loss can change the way you view the world and leave you feeling alienated from others or behaving differently, making it difficult to reach out to friends or family. If it’s too difficult to rely on the emotional support of those close to you, seeking professional grief counseling can provide an outside perspective on how others deal with grief and how their methods can apply to your life.

    Our professionals her at Chapel of the Chimes Oakland understand the difficulty of losing someone special and the importance of providing dignified end-of-life services.  From planning to grief counseling, we’re here to help with flexible services and personalized arrangements. Call (510) 654-0123 with any questions or comments.

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    Join us Sunday, September 15th at 2pm!

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  • The Importance of Having a Support System When Coping with Loss

    Losing a loved one changes your entire life, and while there’s no right or wrong way to deal with grief, it is important to remember that there are others who care for your well-being and who are there to provide a network of emotional support. Some may rely on friends and family, while others may seek solace in solitude or professional grief counseling , but is important to maintain a support system to:

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    Deal with the Aftermath

    People have their own ways of dealing with loss and expressing emotions, but it is important to maintain contact with those who care. Individuals are rarely alone in their feelings of grief over the loss of a loved one, but it’s often difficult to reach out to others who are in the process of dealing with their own feelings, let alone those who do not understand feelings of an acute loss themselves. In these cases, seeking professional grief counseling can provide a much-needed outlet for understanding how others deal with grief and how you can cope with the loss.

    Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

    Studies show that as many as one-third of those dealing with intense grief for extended periods of time tend to exhibit detrimental mental and physical effects . While it’s important not to avoid or “get over” feelings of loss, it is important to deal with grief healthily and take care of your body and mind. Grieving is a long and difficult process, and it can persist for weeks, months, and even years in cycles. Having a network or supportive individuals can help you prioritize your well-being and work through the more difficult moments.

    Chapel of the Chimes Oakland is here to provide a helping hand those who have been impacted by a recent loss of life. Our historic landscape provides a beautiful final resting place, and our professional staff will be there to lend their expertise in planning an end-of-life service. Learn more about us online and call (510) 654-0123 with any questions.