Coping with Grief: 9 Tips & Activities from A Therapist
Coping with Grief: 9 Tips & Activities from A Therapist
What’s Anya Mind, friends?
With everything that’s happening in the world right now, unfortunately more people are mourning and grieving losses than we could even fathom. I’ve been getting asked by many about ways to process grief, and today I am sharing some of the most successful approaches and activities in my practice. Grief is unique to everyone, so please take things at your own pace. There is no right way to grieve. Pay attention to your emotional, mental, and even physical well-being as you work on accepting a new and most likely undesired reality.
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The 5 Stages of Grief by Elisabeth Kubler Ross & David Kessler: https://grief.com/the-five-stages-of-grief/
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Why is it that you don’t get over one grief and you get hit with a whirlwind in its wake?
Ugh. Signing out right now …
I lost my bf/husband of 20+ yrs. in 2016. I also lost my father, grandmother, & uncle in 2020. The pain and grief can feel like a heart attack!
Wow very helpful thank you!!
This the one! Thank you for the video!
❤️❤️❤️
Thank you that good advice
The pain is so much, my son was shot on 15th October 2021, I just want to die because I cant imagine living with this pain for the rest of my life, he was 28 and he always told me he loved me.
The tips are very helpful! My husband died August 2021 and these tips are great. I’ve been texting him things the kids are doing and it’s comforting.
I’ve been feeling like it’s not normal to have such a fear of forgetting. I’m glad I saw this
This was a great message to be shared. Lost my Grandfather 1/1/2017, Grandmother 11/16/20 and my stepdad 12/5/21. It’s been an tough time, BUT God continues to shine his light on my family. We have mourned but also focused on the LIFE they lived. I miss my baby deeply my Grandparents were truly my core, but working to love and work as they would want in all aspects of life. Thanks again 😍
The only thing helping me is watching You tube Bear death experience & how happy those that left are
Those 5 stages of grief are no longer the gold standard. Dr. Therese Rando is a living pioneer in grief and has a wonderful way to look at how grief plays out.
Thank you for this video! Grief can be a lonely place just reading through the comments is helping me to not feel so alone.
this was so helpful. thank you!! i look forward to incorporating these tips in my life after losing my grandmother
It is my understanding the 5 stages of grief were not intended to be used for the living who have experienced a grief. Instead, the 5 stage model was developed to understand the stages of grief in those who were dying in terms of them accepting the inevitable. I’m not saying there are no stages to grief of the living, I’m just saying the original intent needs to be addressed and then explain how it can be adapted for the living going through grief. Thank you
Years ago one person asked me how long I was going to grieve after losing the loved one.
Now, after so many years the only answer that comes to my mind is that I will grieve for as long as the person I loved will remain dead.
If they come back to me, I will let go.
From my experience, there is no one right timeline for the grieving process. There is no one way of going through it. I once read that grieving is like love with nowhere to go. Maybe this is exactly why it hurts so bad.
These tips are helpful. I lost my wife July, 2021 at the young age of 49, to breast cancer. I’ve really been struggling. So I’m thankful for any help I can get. A few weeks later, my best friend also died from bone cancer. Making it even worse.
What a great video filled with good ideas! I am doing an internship now in mental health counseling and I feel very drawn to grief and bereavement therapy, so I am doing a lot of research and training right now. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas here. I’m very grateful!
. My dog of 10 years died in my arms a year ago. She had cancer. I saw her loose consciousness. It was a traumatic experience. I quit my job and am taking time off. I think I am in the “depression “ stage. This helps. I will get a therapist most likely when im ready. Thanks.
I lost my father so maybe u could help me boquetcallie37@gmail.com thats my email address. I don’t have fb or any social media at all. So I need help with copeing he died on June 1st 2021 the day before my birthday I had to sign his death certificate on my birthday. So its been really hard for me
both of My parents are gone, my sister passed away 3weeks ago. I don’t want to go on. I can’t stop crying.
I’m going through a hard time from losing a twin so early on in my life and I need tips, maybe if you could recommend me videos that could help heal that
I do need some help it has been 5 years since my love one pass I always be sad all of the time and can’t sleep at night how can I sure my feelings with him
I so appreciate your video. I currently have a client who is working through the loss of her mother and has had other losses before and after that devastating milestone. Your tips are very relevant and I think will prove helpful. Many thanks🙏
💔
Jesus is our only hope in this world! This is my best friend’s story.
Precious Memories- By Sonya Lakey
We had no idea that the evening of September 24th, 2021, would be the last night our family would be complete. We laughed together, played games, sang, and enjoyed listening as our oldest son played the piano for us. I packed a lunch for him (which he usually did for himself) for the church hike he was going on the following day.
My mom, who was visiting from out of state, and I got up early with him on Saturday morning to hug him and see him off. He hugged me and smiled, never pulling away or rushing me. He got in the car, waved, said he’d see me later and he loved me. It was hard to watch my "new driver" heading out on his own.
As he pulled out of the gate, I turned to my mom and said, "It’s just so hard letting go." Little did I know how much "letting go" I was really doing. That was the last time I saw our 16 year old son. He did not make it home that night.
That afternoon, a friend had tried to contact us, leaving a message on the phone to call back due to an emergency, but we really had no clue what was going on. And though we tried several times to return the call, we were not able to make a connection. As I helped prepare supper, an overwhelming feeling of deep concern for Ethan and dread filled my heart, and I quietly blinked back tears. I looked out the window, half expecting to see a police officer pulling in, but no.
However, within minutes, a police car DID pull in our driveway. In my heart, I feared the worst, but I went outside to speak with him. He confirmed who I and my husband (who followed me out) were, then hesitantly told us our son had fallen off a bluff and had succumbed to his injuries. Our hearts were crushed…. Still are.
Yet, in all of our brokenness, deep, continual grief and loneliness, we have such a blessed Hope and assurance that we will see our dear son again. You see, even as a young boy, Ethan realized some very important truths from God’s Word.
He had sinned against a righteous, holy and just God. The Bible says:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ” (Romans 3:23)
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12)
He understood that his sin separated him from God, and he deserved to spend eternity in Hell.
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31)
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
He understood he could not pay the price for his sins.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Ethan realized that, ‘though he could not pay the price for his sins, the price had already been paid in full by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus lived a perfectly sinless life. He had no fault of His own. But Jesus was crucified for our sins, and He took on Himself the sins of every person in the whole world. He was beaten, spit on, whipped, mocked, scourged, and nailed to the Cross of Calvary. He shed every drop of His righteous blood – because that was the only thing that could satisfy the just demands of a righteous God – so we could be made righteous in Him. He suffered all of that so Ethan – and you and I – would not have to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire, but so we could spend eternity in Heaven with HIM! THAT is a great LOVE.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Jesus did not stay on the cross, nor did He stay in the tomb where His body was buried. Three days later, Jesus arose triumphant over sin and death and the grave. Ethan believed this with his whole heart, asked Jesus to forgive his sins, and he put his faith in Jesus Christ ALONE to save him from sin and eternal death and to take him to Heaven someday.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)
Because of this great salvation, Ethan lived his life serving Jesus and others. He worked hard to spread this Good News to the world. We know he is alive in Heaven with Jesus today, and we know we will see him again soon, not because he was a great kid, but because of his faith in the great Saviour!
What about you? What if you had fallen to your death that day? Would your family, though grieving, be able to rejoice in the knowledge that they would see you again in Heaven, or would you be burning in Hell today?
The Word of God is very clear that there is only One Way to Heaven. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
Have YOU trusted Jesus as YOUR Saviour? Have you repented of your sins? Have you asked Jesus to forgive you so you can go to Heaven & not have to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire? Tomorrow may be too late. As Ethan pulled out of sight that morning, we had no idea we would never see him again in this life. None of us have the promise of tomorrow! Repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus alone – today!
“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2 Corinthians 6:2)
"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14
Loss of a friendship
Thank you 🙏🏼
The 5 stages of grief are not universal. Often it confuses people. Meet people where they are. Their primary needs are to learn how to accept the new reality, adjust-adapt, and find ways to cope which involves the need to utilizes their strengths. This helps them create a new normal.
– Licensed Professional Counselor
This song was written to express our emotions after losing a loved one
https://youtu.be/PqdVBM4TAeI
This is the only video I’ve watched that’s actually helped me
When I was a kid like 6 years old I wanted to die if she passed away but she passed away in 2012, June
Thanks for this video. My next course I’m taking in my MFT program is grief
I just lost my child . I’m trying to just have a better understanding as to why . I’m hurt and I just want to go back to the happy me . I just don’t know where to start
I lost my friendship with a man who I loved because he was my crush about a year and a half ago. I loved him and i miss him so much.
I lost my great grandmas when I was 8, and 13 , my friend in 2019 , my grandma in the beginning of 2020, my poppop last August, and my Samoyed last Wednesday
Thank you so much.
I’ve thrown the anger away.
In two hours I am saying goodbye to my partner of 20 years she passed away on Wednesday.
Neither of us are religious (where religious) yet in this country, Greece, a church
The five stages were never meant to apply to loss or death, they are to do with accepting diagnosis of a terminal illness. They are not linear and you can go back and forth, but really they were never meant for losing someone to death and have been misapplied for decades.
The background moise is interfering with any good you are trying to say
Thank you! Also, talking about their personality, positive qualities, likes and interests may help. The client who has lost someone can also name and express their own emotions depending on their comfort level, with the help of a professional grief therapist, or create art in art therapy
Hey, thx. I wanna say that I’m grieving without someone’s death. I saw a therapist because of daddy issues. I’m mentally over my narcissistic dad. I ghosted my dad. And 3 days ago, my therapist asked if I felt sad? Or angry? about ANYTHING FEOM MY PAST. And I started crying without realizing it. I have suppressed my emotions for too long. And now, im grieving how I didnt have a normal childhood, im grieving how im broken because of my dad, im grieving my connection dad-daughter that I am leaving behind. My dad is alive and tries to get me back. But he keeps hurting me. I hate it. 3 days ago, my therapist asked me that question. The same night, I cut my hair off. I never touched my hair without a hairstylist. I cut it so short, I look like a guy plus I dress like a guy. I’m 17 year old girl. I’m mature because of my fucked up childhood. I’m grieving smth else. I have suppressed my grief for too long. I have not slept well this past 2 night. Im not eating well these past 2 days, im eating twice less food (i guess, im gonna fit now). Its going to be painful and uncomfortable. Guys, we can do this. Let’s be patient and embrace it all. We have to, to be able to move forward. Feel it out.
My husband died 5 days ago
I’ve been watching too many videos on grief these last few weeks. Your words and perspectives and very practical and relatable. It is very helpful to hear advice and ideas that are tangible and applicable. I really appreciate the clarity and authenticity, refreshing to find in times like these
Thank you! This was very helpful. I lost my mom 2 months ago.
The way you explain things is amazing. You really speak in a way we all can understand it. I believe as a kid I never really understood or taught how to deal with grief so now like I don’t get fazed by it or I do but unconsciously don’t know it.
In 2020, I lost my mum the day after we were coming from my Grandmother’s burial. The doctor said she was very sad and she thought of the loss of her mum too much so it struck her heart. So she died of a heart attack. Sometimes I forget that they are both gone at the same time, and I would wish to call my mum or my grandma and they are not there. It’s so hard
Thanks for the info help me a lot
I lost my daughter last month on her birthday…im confused,im always sad,depressed,my wife is depressed and angry,im always staying busy but don’t accomplish much,I dont sleep,just pass out…your all loved ,alwaus appreciate and love your family…
Is it normal to feel different stages everyday ? I mean one day you’re in bargaining the second you’re depressed the third you’re angry then it goes all back ?