Coping with loss involves navigating the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral challenges of grief. Individuals may experience a range of emotions, such as sadness, anger, and guilt, while adjusting to life without the lost person or thing. Strategies for coping include seeking support from loved ones, engaging in self-care activities, and allowing oneself to grieve in a healthy and individualized manner.
Grief is a natural and unavoidable response to loss, encompassing a range of emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations. It’s important to recognize that grief is a unique and individual experience, and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Some common emotions associated with grief may include:
While grief is often described as a journey with no set timeline, many people find it helpful to understand the stages of grief outlined by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her seminal work “On Death and Dying.” These stages include:
