3 Ways to Heal from a Tragedy & Loss
Healing from a loss and tragedy is never the easiest thing to do. There is a combination of outrage, hurt, and denial battling for attention inside of us. There is also shock and horror that stays stuck in our bodies and mind. Many ask over and over, what could we have done and how could it have been prevented.
Please know that it is normal to go through all this during the healing process.
There are 5 phases we go through when facing grief:
• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
•Acceptance
They can come into your heart and mind in a different order. Just be gentle with yourself and let these waves wash through your body. Your mind and body need to process all of these phases. Just remember, that it is normal to grieve and that you are never alone.
Here are 3 Ways To Heal From Tragedy & Loss
Honor Yourself
The best thing to do doing a tragedy is to honor yourself and explore all your emotions that bubble up into your system. It is a natural way the body heals itself when facing a shock trauma.
If listening to the news helps, then do that. If turning off the news helps, then do that. The best way to heal is to be truthful with yourself and acknowledge the pain that the tragedy has caused. We are not perfect in a fast and moving world. We have to nurture our inner child and tell ourselves that we need some time for ourselves.
Talk About It
Reach out to a friend, counselor, or neighbor and chat about it. Many studies have shown that sharing with someone you love and trust is a huge step towards the healing process.
When you talk about the tragedy, it is a way to re-live it again, but this time you are not experiencing it alone. You can integrate it better in a safe environment. It is a reintegration of the memory and process. It helps get the mind and body unstuck.
Energy
Find what gives you your energy back to restore yourself each day. Shock trauma keeps us frozen; we have to find ways to unlock our system. Try to do a little bit of walking, meditation, watching a comedy, or perhaps eating a yummy dessert? This is a very important step to do when you have faced a horror in your life. It helps because you are integrating a negative memory with a positive memory. Every time you practice this ritual you are on your way to healing a little bit each day.
Remember that healing is never linear. There are many bumps ahead during this journey. The hurt truly never goes away but the volume of the pain does get just a little bit lower and dimmer each time.
Much Love,
Debra Roinestad,(Author of Protected by the Light)
