Dealing With Loss

There Are Different Kinds Of  Loss

Some losses have nothing to do with death, but they can still be really challenging to deal with. In some cases, it might be hard to explain what happened and why you’re so upset. But no matter how it happened, it can hurt a lot when you experience a big change.

Types Of Loss

No one died, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t have good reasons for grieving. Some of the ways that you can lose someone are:

  • Breaking up
  • Moving far away
  • Divorce of family members
  • Fighting with friends and not being able to make up
  • Losing your spirituality, important ideas, or dreams that really mattered to you
  • Life-changing or life-threatening illness
  • Developing a disability
  • Feeling bad

It’s normal to experience a lot of different feelings when you’re grieving.

Here are some of them:

  • Sadness
  • Anger
  • Emptiness
  • Loneliness
  • Shock and disbelief
  • Confusion
  • Fear
  • Relief

Depending on your situation, the last feeling might be hard to identify with. Relief can be common, for example, when parents get divorced, especially if there was a lot of fighting at home. You might feel really sad about your parents splitting up, but part of you might feel relieved knowing that you won’t have to listen to them argue anymore.

Have you read our article on Dealing with Divorce?

Healing From Loss

You might feel horrible today, but over time, you will learn how to deal with it. In the meantime, it’s important to look after yourself. Here are some things you can do to take care:

  • Get enough sleep
  • Play sports or do another activity you love
  • Eat properly: don’t skip meals, and try not to eat too much junk food.
  • Write in a journal, or post something in Express Yourself or Ask Us Online
  • Take long walks
  • Hang out with friends who support you

Have you read our article on how art can help in tough times?

Try not to expect too much of yourself. It’s hard to deal with loss, but pausing long enough to take it in will help you get through it. Accept that things are going to be rough for a while. Eventually, you’ll feel better—it might not be today, but soon.