Grief is a response to a loss in your life that can leave you feeling overwhelmed and disoriented. The loss can also give you physical symptoms, such as tightness in your chest, fatigue, loss of appetite, and insomnia. Therefore, taking extra care of yourself during this time is essential. Here are some health goals to follow while you navigate your grief.
Stick to a Schedule
You may find it hard to think clearly as your mind adjusts to the loss. Known as grief brain fog, you may notice memory issues, inability to focus, trouble making decisions, and simple tasks taking longer than usual to complete. Setting up a routine daily schedule of day-to-day tasks will help keep you on track. Set up specific times for meals, taking your medications, and bedtime.
Eat Healthy Foods
It’s common to lose your appetite when you are dealing with grief. But skipping meals only makes you feel worse as your body won’t have the energy to function correctly. Instead, focus on eating healthy foods like whole grains, fruit, vegetables, lean proteins, fish, and healthy fats. These will keep your energy steady. Also, avoid alcoholic and heavily caffeinated drinks, which can make you anxious. Instead, drink six to eight glasses of water or tea to keep your body hydrated.
Get Daily Exercise
You may be tempted to stay in bed all day and avoid physical exercise. However, research has shown that regular exercise helps alleviate depression, a common symptom of grief. Try doing simple exercise activities like walking, cycling, or swimming. If needed, ask a friend to join you to hold yourself accountable for exercising.
If you’re stretched for time, look for ways to add activity to your day. For example, you could skip the elevator and take the stairs or use part of your lunch break for a brisk walk.
Get Professional Help
Professional mental health support can help you cope with your loss, especially if your emotions feel overwhelming or you’re depressed. You can choose group grief counseling or individual sessions with a therapist. Online therapy is a secure, private, and convenient way to get mental health help. When exploring the cost of therapy, this virtual solution offers less commitment than office visits and saves you money and travel time. Streaming therapy gives you a choice of a wide variety of licensed therapists. Most offer a free first session to ensure the two of you are the right match.
Be Sensitive to Your Emotions
Be sensitive to your emotional needs at this time. You may need times of solitude to help you process your thoughts and feelings, but don’t isolate yourself completely. Times with loving family and friends help you stay connected and increase your sense of well-being.
It is important to embrace all the emotions you are feeling and not try to ignore them. Instead, acknowledge them and let them move through you like a cloud in the sky. Doing so helps you move through your grief instead of remaining stuck in it.
Do Inspiring Activities
Connect with whatever inspires you, whether that’s your faith, creating art, listening to music, journaling, or spending time outdoors in nature.
Following these tips can help you deal with a significant loss in your life in a healthy way. They assist you in caring for yourself as you progress through your grief. See how Michigan Brain Health can help.
Next Steps
Are you ready to find out if neurofeedback at Michigan Brain Health may help you? If so, we are excited to let you know we offer a free initial evaluation for everyone. No strings attached. No obligations. It takes about 30 minutes. So, if you’re ready to check it out, call my office at 586.488.4818. I’d love the chance to help you improve your sense of well-being.
Schedule a Free EvaluationWant to learn more about neurofeedback? Check out my Introduction to Neurofeedback Video
Schedule a Free Evaluation or call (586) 488-4818 and see for yourself how beneficial the Michigan Brain Health neurofeedback program can be for your health challenges.
Always remember one of my mantras, “The more you know about how your body works, the better you can take care of yourself.”
For more details about the natural approach I take with my patients, take a look at the book I wrote entitled: Reclaim Your Life; Your Guide To Revealing Your Body’s Life-Changing Secrets For Renewed Health. It is available in my office or at Amazon and many other book outlets. If you found value in this article, please use the social sharing icons at the bottom of this post, and please share with those you know who are still suffering from chronic health challenges, despite receiving medical management. Help me reach more people so they may regain their zest for living! Thank you!
