Life may present various challenges, some of which may be easy to cope with, whereas with some, the same cannot be said. Either way, it’s our willingness to adapt to such challenges and situations that will influence transformation. This is what influences and determines our health, happiness, and overall well being.
All this aside, there’s no easier way to deal with the death of a loved one. Depending on how deep your attachment to them was, the few days, weeks, or months that follow can be a nightmare in the making. But the harsh truth is that death has been with us since the beginning of humanity, and unless you want to follow suit, the best thing to do is accept that disease, an accident, or old age claimed them, and move on with life.
The case is however different when a loved one dies unexpectedly, violently, suddenly, or tragically. There are so many examples of tragic events that claim our loved ones and we can all relate to that. If we, for instance, revisit the 9/11 terror attack on American soil that claimed 2,977 lives, the fact of the matter is that the images will forever be edged in the minds of the loved ones left behind. But death is itself is tragic, and the circumstances surrounding it may subject a person to intensified grief. If you’ve lost a loved one from sudden or tragic death, the thought of having had no chance to say your goodbyes, finish a project or fix some problems may significantly cause you more pain and guilt.
Most of us employ different mechanisms when dealing and coping with grief from bereavement, but in most cases, it all depends on who or what we surround ourselves with. Human beings have been designed with different levels of resilience. But coping with tragic death is a true test to our limits. In this item, we will focus on various ways on how to cope with the tragic death of a loved one.
1. Talk to Someone
As humans, we respond to loss by grieving. This is the overwhelming pain you feel when you lose a loved one. It’s natural and you shouldn’t feel like you’re out of place. Grief is surrounded by profound pain, mixed emotions, and disbelief. In most cases, when dealing with grief, some people may withdraw from the support system into their personal caves and cocoons. This is okay but having the strength to face your loss head-on and talking about is vital if not a crucial step of dealing with grief. It takes a lot of time to work through grief and, surrounding yourself with family and friends will help you to get by.
2. Talk To an Attorney
While the tragic death of your loved one may be as a result of someone else’s negligence, obtaining justice on their behalf is one of the first things to do. Most cases of wrongful death often stem from vehicular accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability, construction site accidents, and car accidents. All these can be overwhelmingly burdensome, both emotionally and financially to the kin of the victim. Adam Getson, a renowned Philadelphia wrongful death lawyer from Wapner Newman, says that working with an experienced attorney in wrongful death matters can help make things easier for you emotionally and financially as you seek justice for and grieve the loss of your loved one. With proper legal support, departed loved one can get justice while their surviving and bereaved loved ones receive compensation that may cater for any medical bills that may be left unpaid, cover for funeral arrangements, and even cater for end of life expenses. Depending on the magnitude of the case, compensation could also cover lost income for the bereaved as well as other future financial obligations such as mortgage payments and tuition.
3. Take Your Time
Grief is a process that takes time and more often than not, you’ll need a lot of time to heal. But we all cope differently with different situations and let no one lie to you, there’s no time limit when it comes to grieving.
All the same, it’s important to understand that Grief is a process involving different stages and if you allow yourself enough time to experience all these stages, you’ll be in a better position to heal and get back on your feet. 4 of the 5 main stages of grief after losing a loved one may include:
- Denial – During this stage, you find it hard to comprehend and believe the demise of a loved one. It’s a numbing experience psychologically and it takes time for a person to come into terms with their loss.
- Rage – As the truth sinks in, it’s very easy to get angry. Tragic death may be as a result of so many circumstances such as accidents or illness. This anger may be redirected to the doctors, the driver, the loved one for dying, or a higher power.
- Depression – It’s very normal for you to feel overwhelmed with sadness. The best thing is that it doesn’t last forever. Nevertheless, this is a complex stage and it’s at this stage that you may want to seek professional help if it takes longer and prevents you from moving on.
- Acceptance – This is an important stage in the grieving process as it marks the onset of coming to terms with your loss. In addition to this, acceptance allows you to move on with your life. There are high chances of revisiting the above stages, however, you’ll be in a better position to manage your pain.
4. Appreciate and Embrace Life
If there’s one thing that death teaches us is that life is precious and every breath we draw in needs to be appreciated. While it’s important to mourn the loss of a loved one, it’s also important to remember that we have a life to live. Of course, the loss leaves a gap that cannot be filled by any other person or thing. Nonetheless, ensuring that you honor them by living your life the way the departed person would have wanted can be overly helpful in your road to recovery.
5. Seek Help
The loss of a loved one can devastate a person to great extents. While it’s true that we are resilient in our own ways, some people may need professional help to help them come to terms with their loss. Grief cannot be fixed, however, it may help to provide a grieving person with comfort and all the support they can get. Death resulting from tragedy is unbearable and can cause persistent grief that lasts more than usual. When all else fails, turning to other sources of support can help your journey to recovery. Social support, therapy, and counseling are various ways you can move out from your inner circle of relations and explore other ways to deal and ultimately endure your grief. No loss is too small or too big to warrant help or support.
Grieving a loved one from a tragic death can be exhausting, painful, and unbearable. Most people may find it easier to ignore what they feel by turning to alcohol and other substances. While these may provide temporary solutions, in the longer run, you’ll need to confront your feelings. The best approach is to deal with your emotions right away other than suppressing them. The above tips will hopefully help you cope with the aftermath of losing a loved one to a tragic accident or incidence.