You’ve recently lost a loved one, and you feel untethered from the world. Part of you can’t believe that your entire life has changed, and yet everyone else is going about their daily lives as though nothing is different.
You’ve found yourself ignoring invitations to social events and shrinking away when people try to check in with you. You worry that other people won’t understand what you’re going through, and you barely have the energy to get out of bed some days, let alone attend a social gathering.
Loneliness and isolation can exacerbate grief. It’s tempting to keep to yourself after a loss. But strengthening your connections with those who care about you is an essential part of healing. Here’s how to cope with the isolation and loneliness that often accompanies grief.
Resist the Urge to Scroll
When you’re struggling with low energy, and you’re spending lots of time alone, it can be tempting to scroll online to distract yourself from your grief. But this doesn’t foster real connections with others. Fulfilling forms of escapism, like drawing or reading interesting books, can serve a valuable role when you’re overcoming grief. However, scrolling online may not help you heal.
Low-Maintenance Reconnection
You may not be ready to go to a large get-together yet, but if you’ve been avoiding your loved ones, you can slowly rekindle those connections. Try taking small steps with low-maintenance ways of reconnecting. Replying to texts or leaving each other voice messages is a start. You could also socialize one-on-one or with small groups for short periods of time.
Be Honest With Your Loved Ones
Do you tend to downplay how you’re feeling when people reach out to you? Perhaps when a friend asks how you’re doing, your default answer is “I’m fine.” You might worry that if you’re honest about your struggles, your loved ones will back away.
Yet honest communication is actually key to breaking down these walls. You might be surprised by the support your friends offer when you let them know how you’re really feeling.
Spend More Time Outside of Your Home
Sometimes, simply stepping outside can lift your mood. You might want to incorporate daily walks into your routine to get a little more fresh air and low-effort socializing into your day. When you’re walking, you’ll likely end up saying “Hello” to other people in your neighborhood, petting a dog or two, or stopping into a local business for a treat that lifts your mood.
Consider Finding a Support Group
Maybe you’ve tried to open up to other people in your life about your grief, but perhaps none of your loved ones have experienced a loss quite like yours. You may want to think about finding a local grief support group. In a support group, you’ll meet many other people who are grappling with loss in their lives, and you might find a sense of relief in this mutual understanding.
Talk to a Grief Therapist
Working one-on-one with a grief therapist can also help you address loneliness and isolation. A grief therapist can help you find ways to honor your loved one while guiding you through your personal healing journey. Grief therapy is not about rushing healing. Instead, you’ll learn how to integrate lessons from this loss into your new understanding of yourself. Your therapist will support you in gradually stepping into a new chapter of your life after a loss.
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Are you struggling with loneliness and isolation while grieving? Reach out to our practice to book a free consultation and explore how a compassionate grief therapist can help you heal throughout this process.
