Tips to Cope with the Death of a Spouse

I recently wrote an article about helping a friend through the death of his or her partner. If you haven't had a chance to read it, you can check it out right here.

That made me think about how hard it would be to lose a spouse. You are going to have to continue to go through the motions of living, yet the person that you always imagined being beside you is gone. Your entire life could change in an instant.

Struggling as a widow? Here are some tips that may help you through this difficult time.

Don’t go through this process alone. Make sure that you have family and friends by your side, as you navigate your new normal. Even if they don’t live close, short phone calls can really help you stay connected. If you do live close enough, ask some of your friends and family to stop by, so you don’t feel so alone.

Once things settle down, you may want to start meeting friends for lunch and going out together. Even going on walks or to the movies can help you stay connected with the outside world.

Don’t hesitate to talk to a professional. Lucky for most people, they don’t know what it is like to lose a spouse. This only means that your family and friends aren’t really going to understand what you are going through.

This is why a professional will be able to help. He or she will help you adjust to your new life. Most counselors have plenty of ways to help you as you process your grief and figure out where to go from here.

Focus on yourself. This is the time that you need to take care of yourself. Even if you don’t feel like eating regularly, it is important that you continue to nourish your body. Make sure that you are getting enough sleep for your body to function. It also helps to stay active, even as you grieve.

You should also give yourself some grace during this time. You aren’t going to be able to function like everything is normal, especially in the beginning. You may find yourself in tears throughout the day. Many widows feel anger and all other types of emotions. They may even find themselves with multiple emotions at once.

For this reason, you need to give yourself some grace. Do things that give you some joy during this difficult time. This may include spending time with your loved ones, or just enjoying a movie or book. Spoil yourself. You deserve it.

Do your best to stay busy. You may feel like you have a lot of hours in the day, with nothing to fill them with. So, you are going to need to find ways to stay busy. You may want to watch old movies or spend time with family and friends. It may help you to volunteer at a local school or even a pet shelter. Find new hobbies to enjoy.

Becoming a widow can be life-changing. For this reason, you need to keep your family and friends close. Even if they live far away, find ways to keep in touch with them. That being said, you really should talk to a professional. He or she is going to have ways to help you deal with your new situation. No matter how much your family and friends love you, they may not have any idea about what you are going through.

Then, you really need to use this time to take care of yourself. This is especially true if you were busy being a caretaker for the last few weeks (or months). Make sure that you are eating, sleeping, and staying active. Then, find ways to stay busy. Spend time with those you love and try a new hobby!

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Previously published on Medium and/or Newsbreak.