Dealing with the death of a loved one is one of the hardest things that people have to go through. This is made even more difficult if their death was unexpected and due to an injury as it provides you with no time to prepare yourself or to say goodbye. It is hard to know what to do in this situation and in truth, the only healer will be time, but there are a few steps that you can take which should make the grieving process slightly easier and help you to heal in a healthy manner. Read on for a few tips for what to do if you suddenly have to cope with the death of a loved one.
Allow Yourself To Grieve
People often feel like they need to pull themselves together and stop themselves from feeling emotion after the death of a loved one, but you need to give yourself some time to grieve. You may also find that you experience a wide range of emotions during this time and some which are more prominent than sadness and this is understandable – a few examples you are likely to feel are anger, shock, and disbelief. There may also be physical symptoms during this time such as shakiness, lack of appetite, general pains and heart palpitations.
Lean On Support Network
Everyone will need loved ones around them during this time for both emotional support and help with day-to-day chores. It can be hard to reach out and say that you need help, but it is important because nobody should be going through this alone. If you do not have friends or family that you can speak to then it is a smart idea to speak to a grief counselor and/or attend group therapy sessions (this can be helpful in addition to having a support network too).
Looking After Yourself
It can be hard to look after yourself when you are dealing with the unexpected death of a loved one and even the smallest chore can seem difficult. This is why it is helpful to have those around you that can help with day-to-day chores, but you also need to make sure that you are looking after yourself. This will include regular exercise (even if it is just a daily walk) and eating a healthy diet. Sleep can be difficult during this time but there may be methods that can help you to get good quality sleep.
Seeking Compensation
If the death was down to somebody else’s negligence, such as a road traffic accident, then you should look into making a fatal accident claim. Although this will not bring back your loved one, the compensation can help you to rebuild your life and cover any costs that you have suffered now or in the future because of the death. Many people also find that making these claims are helpful in terms of getting answers and a sense of closure.
It will take time to heal from the death of a loved one and your life may never be the same, but the above are all important steps that will hopefully help you to navigate the difficult times early on after an unexpected passing.
