Grief is a powerful emotion which many people encounter for the first time in their teenage years. And of course being a young person is challenging enough without having this added burden to shoulder.
If you are a teen who is struggling to cope with loss, there are various steps you can take and strategies you can embrace to get through what can feel like an overwhelming experience. Here are just a few options to consider that are much better than suffering in silence.
Get Grief Counseling
Because grief is a universal experience, there are many grief counseling services which are staffed by specialists in this field with the aim of assisting people of all ages when they lose a loved one or experience some other triggering event.
Speaking with a professional counselor is arguably the best way to ensure that you can process the various feelings that will be coursing through your mind while you grieve. They can give you advice that is specific to your circumstances and adjust the treatment over time as you make progress.
Grief counseling is also advantageous because it can put you in contact with others who are going through the same thing as you. Group sessions will show that you are not alone and that your reactions are entirely natural, which will help you move towards acceptance.
Look After Your Body
The symptoms of grief can express themselves in various ways, and those suffering from it can end up neglecting their own health and happiness as a direct result.
This can be averted in a number of ways; make sure that you are eating well and keeping nutrition in mind, while also taking care to sustain a normal sleep pattern where possible. Exercise is also an effective tool for teenagers facing off against grief, as it is not only able to improve your mental health, but will also give you the escape you might need from your home life.
Plan & Create
While grieving it is tempting to spend all of your time looking to the past, ruminating on better days and ultimately failing to think about the future. In order to deal with grief in the long term, you need to plan and start adding things to your schedule that give you something to look forward to, or a goal to achieve.
You can personalise your plans to make them appealing, but it can help to focus on creative endeavours, since expressing yourself can be a great way to cope with loss in its own right. Whether you take on an artistic project solo or get together with friends to collaborate on something special, the simple act of having other thoughts to occupy your mind will make a big difference.
Each person needs to find their own way of working through the grief that they feel, and it will always take time to process. However, the most vital step is to be proactive in the first place, rather than letting it rule your life.
