4 Ways to Care for Yourself When Grieving 

By: Rachel Fowler, MS, LPC, NCC

Taking care of yourself when grieving is widely misunderstood and avoided. “Take care of yourself” is said as a quick statement of condolence but rarely with instructions. How does one take care of themselves while battling and feeling the most painful emotions? 

Four ways to care for yourself when grieving

1. Give yourself permission

After a loss, based on your culture and preferred rituals, there are many things to plan, be present for, and push through. It can sometimes feel like you have no time to grieve or you are telling yourself, “Not yet.” There will never be a good time to start grieving, so it is okay to permit yourself to take your time to feel the range of emotions that come up. 

2. Avoid harmful and harsh environments

Loud and crowded places can be harmful during the acute stages of grief. Temporarily avoiding or minimizing these environments can help you protect yourself during this time. 

3. Spend time in nature

No one is telling you to go for a hike or start bike riding tomorrow. What I would recommend is to stand outside in your backyard or sit on your porch. The goal is to avoid spending all your time in bed or on your couch. Getting some fresh air and sunlight helps increase your immune system, boost your mood, and help regulate sleep. 

4. Eliminate the word “should”

There is no one way to grieve. If you catch yourself saying “I should be…”, immediately take a breath, and give yourself a gentle reminder. There is nothing you “should” be doing. The dishes can wait, you can take another nap or you do not have to clean that closet right now. 

How can Grief Therapy help?

Starting therapy to begin or find structure to your grief journey is another way to care for yourself. During this unimaginable time, grief therapy can provide support, a sense of constancy, and simply a place to feel your grief.  

Begin Therapy or Support for Mental Health in Katy, TX 

If you are ready to start working on bettering yourself, one of the therapists at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide grief counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:

• Contact our office to set up an appointment or to learn more information
• Meet with one of our knowledgeable therapists
• Find ways to thrive through therapy today!

Other Therapy Services We Offer: 

Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!