What are the Best Tips for Coping with Grief?

Methods of coping with grief can be different for each individual, and it is important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to cope with grief, as well as no set time frame. Some people find that attending individual grief counseling or a support group are helpful methods for coping with grief. Others find that more personal methods, such as writing in a journal or talking one on one with a friend, are more beneficial. Grief does not necessarily just occur after a death; it can be experienced after the end of a relationship, the loss of a pet, or after a traumatic event, among others.

It is often recommended for people coping with grief that they find some form of outlet, so the feelings are not kept bottled up inside. This does not necessarily have to involve sharing the feelings with another person, though that can be helpful. Journaling can be a good, yet private way to deal with feelings that arrive from grief. It is often believed that people go through five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, though this is not a requirement; some people go through these stages, some people experience only a few, and some don't experience any at all.

Seeking sources of support are often some of the best ways of coping with grief. Individual grief counseling with a therapist can be helpful in getting through the worst part of grief, even if the counseling only needs to last for a few weeks or months. Joining a support group is also very helpful for some people, because it allows one to interact and have discussions with individuals who are going through the same thing. There is no need to try to hide feelings or "feel better" in a support group. There are even online support groups available now for people who may not feel comfortable attending a group in person.

When coping with grief, get support from friends and family if it is helpful, but do not allow anyone to determine how you should feel. Everyone experiences grief differently; some people cry, other people get angry, others may feel emotionally numb. Again, there is no "right" way to go through the grieving process. In the future, some people try to avoid triggers that may rekindle feelings of grief, such as listening to a certain type of music or going to a specific location.