Dealing With The Loss Of A Loved One

Death, as the Oxford dictionary defines it, is the permanent end of all life functions in an organism or part of an organism.

Each breath we take is a step towards death. We lose loved ones each and every day, but does their departure mean that our life also has to end? Does it mean that we now have to stop doing what we usually do?

No, it doesn’t. How then do we deal with the loss of a loved one?

We grieve.

People show grief in many ways, mainly in physical reactions, these might include changes in appetite or sleep, crying, trouble relaxing or concentrating. Others grieve by frequently thinking about the memories of the person who died, regrets or thoughts of what life will be like without the person and some grieve by expressing strong emotions like sadness, anger, despair, guilt or hope. People tend to forget that grieving is a healthy process of coming to terms with a loss and finding ways to adapt. Many of us are still stuck at the first stage, which is the process of needing to be comforted and do not move on to the next stages.

Coming to terms with the loss of a loved one does not mean completely forgetting about the person that has passed away, it, however, means finding ways to remember loved ones and adjust to the gap they have left behind in our lives. Lastly, finding ways to adapt can be the most difficult thing to do. How does one adapt to life without their mother or father?

Adapting to life without a loved one doesn’t mean completely forgetting about the impact the person had in your life, it also doesn’t mean numbing the pain. What it means is that we should come to terms with the fact that the person has passed away and is no longer there with us.

We adapt by living each and every day knowing that we have a guardian angel, and we need to make them proud so when they look down on us, their hearts and souls will be filled with tremendous joy.

The grieving process takes time and grief can be more intense at certain times. One thing we should not forget is that death is inevitable, we need to accept the fact that we will all die. So, the loss of a loved one can sometimes be a reminder that we are just guests on this planet and that one day, we too will take our leave.

Secilia Kandjungu is an aspiring young writer who enjoys writing novels in her free time.

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