Though it’s a sad reality, it’s inevitable for us to mourn for the death of a family member at some point in time. It’s a time wherein we receive memorial gifts from friends, colleagues and other relatives — but how do we express our grief and sympathy ourselves to our fellow grieving family members?
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Understanding Grief
Grief is man’s natural reaction to a loss of something or someone important. Experts and psychologists state that there are five main stages involved in the grieving process — denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
This intensity of this process can be shown through many emotions symptoms. A grieving person will experience shock, disbelief, sadness, fear, and even guilt.
Physically, it can also impact our bodies negatively. One can exhibit symptoms like fatigue, nausea, insomnia, weight loss (or weight gain), and lowered immunity.
Grief has no definite timetable. As it is a highly personal experience, one can cope up and move forward faster than the others.
Ways to Express Grief
Just hearing the news of someone losing a loved one is already a sad thing to heart. The sympathy that we feel even prompts us to send over memorial gifts like memorial wind chimes just to express how sorry we feel about their loss.
But when it is a family member that passes away, it becomes a different story. The grief takes the whole family on a roller coaster ride of emotions; it becomes a situation that can be addressed individually and collectively. The question now is — how do you express grief following a death in the family? Here are some ways how:
Through the funeral service. Arranging the deceased’s funeral service is the most ideal time to gather the whole family. It’s the period wherein each family member can devote a time to remember the memories of their loved one. It’s also a time when the family members can physically reach out to one another — like embracing and pacifying each other.
Through art and music. Different art firms like music and dance offer a great avenue to cope up with the loss of a family member. This is especially true to a family with members who are artistically inclined. They can dedicate a time singing the deceased’s favorite music, or watching the deceased’s favorite play.
Through writing. Another way of expressing grief is through writing. You can invite the whole family to create a collective journal commemorating the memories of their loved one who had passed away. And in there, the bereaved can write down poetries and journal entries to help them release their emotions and sentiments.
Through religious rituals. Apart from gifting each other with memorial gifts, you can also turn to your family’s faith to help you all cope up with the loss — especially if you all share the same faith.
Through a support group. If the symptoms of grief are recurring among the majority of the family members, it’s best to seek professional help. You can invite the whole family to join a support group or attend counseling lessons.
We have different ways of expressing our sympathy for the death of family or friends. One safe way to reach out to someone grieving is through simple memorial gifts such as memorial wind chimes.
