1. Help with Understanding Grief

One of the best benefits of grief counseling might be that it can help you understand what you’re going through. Grief counselors act as a guide while you learn to process and understand the stages of grief. 

Developed by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross in her groundbreaking 1969 book, On Death and Dying, there are 5 stages of grief often referenced in counseling. 

Stages most people experience as they grieve include:

• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance

It’s important to note that the stages of grief are not linear or identical for everyone. How, when, and even if you experience each stage can differ from person to person. More recently, David 

Kressler added 2 more stages of grief that are commonly accepted. They are shock and testing.

2. A Safe Space to Express Emotions

It’s crucial to understand there’s no timeline for the grief journey. Most people vastly underestimate how long the grieving process takes. Research shows on average, it can take up to 2 years to heal from significant loss. 

Due to the length of time the grieving process takes, you might find it difficult to express your emotions in a place where you feel safe. It might feel like the world has moved on, but you’re stuck without a way to express yourself. Grief counseling can offer that haven, where no emotion is out of place. 

3. Coping Mechanisms

Counseling will offer a tool kit filled with grief therapy techniques and coping tools. Coping mechanisms for grief are crucial in helping you process any complicated grief emotions while you heal. 

Common coping mechanisms used in grief therapy include:

• Journaling: Writing down your feelings and thoughts helps you process them more deeply. Research suggests that journaling can be an effective way to manage anxiety, stress, and depression, which are often related to loss.
• Deep breathing: The art of deep breathing is a way to calm the mind and regain control over your emotions. There are several breathing techniques you can learn in therapy that can help you when your grief is all-encompassing, and you can’t see a way out. 
• Mindfulness: Mindful meditation is an ancient practice of being still. It focuses on calming the mind and letting go of regrets from the past or worries about the future. 
• Positive reframing: In therapy, you learn how to reframe your thoughts about grief. While at first this may seem impossible — nothing good came from your loss — the concept of reframing isn’t just “looking at the glass half full.” It’s more like consciously focusing on the good memories or putting effort into a tribute for the person you lost — actions that can help relieve some of the pain you’re experiencing. 

4. Increased Self-Awareness

One of the most incredible benefits of any type of therapy is how it helps boost self-awareness. In grief therapy, you gain a good grasp and understanding of the feelings and emotions you experience during the grieving process.  

With self-awareness comes a rise in consciousness that helps you recognize unhealthy or unhelpful thought and behavior processes that might evoke psychological pain. Therapy can help you learn effective tools to manage these moments in constructive, positive ways.

5. Help with Accepting Reality

Acceptance can be one of the most complicated stages of grief to move through. Grief therapy allows you to come to terms with the harsh reality of your loss. It’s important to note that acceptance doesn’t mean forgetting about your loved one or feeling at peace with the loss. Instead, it’s knowing how to live with your new reality.

6. Reduces Isolation

Grief can be a very isolating and lonely experience. Though it’s a personal and solitary time in your life, it doesn’t have to remain that way. A grief counseling session can be comforting, and your grief therapist can offer you validation when you feel alone or like nobody understands your pain. Understanding that your feelings aren’t wrong or abnormal is vital to healing.

It’s common to feel a disconnect when you’re grieving. Therapy with a grief counselor can help you reconnect and explain where you are emotionally if others can’t see what you’re going through.

7. Restored Sense of Control

With grief often comes anxiety and stress, which can make you feel out of control. Therapy and grief counseling techniques can be a lifeline that guides you through these emotional storms so you can find calm. 

One of the most critical aspects of therapy is that it doesn’t mask symptoms. Instead, your grief therapist gives you the tools for long-term resilience so you can handle whatever else life throws at you, even when you’re in a fragile state that comes with grieving. 

Learning to master your emotions is crucial after a loss. It’s always OK to be authentic and “feel your feelings,” but knowing you can control them is empowering. It will bring hope back into view, even though grief has changed everything you know about your world. 

“Grief can change a person’s entire perspective on life. There can be overall changes in sleep patterns, eating patterns, overall energy decreases there’s forgetfulness and trouble concentrating. Mood changes like irritability and overall sadness.”

– Talkspace therapist Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW

8. Help with Life Transitions

By seeking therapy to manage your grief, you’ll learn how to move towards a new reality after loss with grief counseling techniques. Going to a grief counseling session can pave the way as you work toward acceptance and growth. Maybe this means adjusting to living alone or dealing with significant shifts professionally, but therapy can offer grief support as you learn to understand your new roles and territory. 

9. Effective Communication Skills

Learning to communicate effectively is a life skill you’ll benefit from long after you go through the grieving process. The capacity to communicate clearly and in a thoughtful, expressive manner allows the people around you to understand what you’re struggling with so they can surround you with a supportive and sympathetic circle as you heal. 

10. Support in Rebuilding Relationships

Grief can make sustaining relationships challenging. It’s easy to pull away from others, and feeling misunderstood, even by those closest to you, is not uncommon. Therapy can help you strengthen bonds again so you can reshape damaged relationships. 

By coping with and expressing your emotions in healthy ways, you can reestablish deep connections with people you may have distanced yourself from. 

11. Finding Meaning After Loss

It feels impossible, but you can find meaning after loss. Even when it seems like you’re drowning or that your grief is swallowing you up, grief counseling can show you how to take — sometimes very small — steps toward finding purpose. 

Loss can create a void so big that your entire worldview shifts. Therapy with a grief counselor helps you embrace the transformation loss causes, as post-traumatic growth focuses on slowly letting go of the pain you’re in.

“Through the pain, sometimes grief can put things into perspective. The grieving process can slow an individual down so much that they start to see the world differently. Through the grieving process and with the help of a grief counselor, you can find ways to put the grief into perspective. Sometimes, grief can even redefine an individual’s life purpose.”

– Talkspace therapist Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW

Is Grief Counseling Worth It?

It’s completely normal to wonder if grief counseling is worth it. The short answer is: yes, it is. According to research, while most people will be able to cope with grief without intervention or professional help from a grief therapist, experiencing loss is linked to both mental and physical outcomes. 

• Mental health impact: According to research, grief is linked to an increase in poor mental health, causing higher rates of mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.   

• Physical impact: Some studies indicate that grief can affect physical health and even lead to an increased risk of mortality. 

Getting a hold on your grief by managing and working through it in therapy can help you ease the impact it has on your life.

Begin Your Healing Journey with Talkspace

If you need help dealing with grief, Talkspace is an online therapy platform that simplifies the therapeutic process. Online grief counseling is just as effective as in-person — it offers you access to professional, experienced grief counselors so you can find the strength you need to navigate your grief and come out on the other side.

Average Cost of Grief Counseling

The average cost of grief counseling typically ranges from $75 to $150 per session, though this can fluctuate based on the grief counselor’s experience, location, and the session’s length and type. The final price you pay for these types of mental health services will depend on many other things as well. Regardless of the cost, the benefits of grief counseling are worth the investment.

Factors That Influence the Cost of Grief Counseling

There are some common factors that influence the cost of therapy for grief. To start, how extreme your grief is can determine how often and long you need treatment, which can affect the total cost of care overall. 

Other factors that impact cost include: 

• The mental health professional’s experience and training
• Your location
• Duration and frequency of sessions 
• Type and format of counseling and if you’re seeking in-person or online therapy
• Whether or not you have insurance 

Counselor’s experience and qualifications

If you’re wondering how much a grief counselor costs, remember that mental health professionals will have varying degrees, backgrounds, and experience. A therapist’s history can influence their per-session price. Very experienced grief counselors, therapists, or psychiatrists can charge more because they bring knowledge, expertise, and reputation to their practice.  

Location

Like anything else, where you live generally plays a role in how much grief counselors and therapists will charge for their services. A mental health professional who works in Manhattan or Los Angeles will likely charge considerably more than one who practices in a smaller, rural community. 

Duration and frequency of sessions

Counseling session length and how often you go to therapy will obviously play a part in determining how much grief counseling costs. Longer or more frequent sessions will typically translate to higher overall costs. 

Type of counseling

There are multiple types of grief therapy techniques available. The approach and format can play a role in how much you’ll pay. Individual, group, online, or in-person (face-to-face) sessions will differ in price.

“There are several reasons why a person can choose one or more modes of bereavement therapy. Individual in-person or online sessions will be based on a few factors, including the cost and/or availability of those mental health professionals. Group therapy can be cost-effective. Both individual and group sessions have pros and cons in choosing what’s right for an individual. Understanding what you want and how you want to process your grief will be a key factor in deciding the right modality.”

– Talkspace therapist Minkyung Chung, MS, LMHC

Insurance coverage

Whether or not you have health insurance will play a large role in how much grief counseling will cost you. However, insurance gets tricky when it comes to therapy for grief recovery. While the Affordable Care Act mandates that insurance companies cover mental health services the same way they do physical health, you might need a distinct diagnosis for your insurance to offer coverage for grief support.

The good news, though, is if your insurance covers even a portion of your grief counseling costs, your out-of-pocket expenses (the portion of the fee you’re responsible for) will be much lower. 

Affordable Online Grief Counseling at Talkspace

Grief recovery can be a taxing journey — but you don’t have to go through it alone. If you’re worried about the cost of grief counseling, you should know that Talkspace is an online therapy platform that offers affordable, convenient, and accessible online grief counseling from licensed mental health professionals who understand what you’re going through. You can work with a Talkspace provider who takes a compassionate approach to the grief support and healing you need during this time — all while you’re in the comfort of your own home.

Connect with a Talkspace therapist today to start on the path of dealing with grief. The road is long, but we’re with you every step of the way during your grieving process. 

Mental health services can be critical for those coping with loss, but does insurance cover grief counseling? The simplest answer is sometimes. While federal law and the Affordable Care Act mandate that health insurance plans cover mental health treatment the same way they do physical health, without a clear diagnosis — like prolonged grief disorder (PGD) — some insurers are able to get around compliance and deny coverage. 

Unfortunately, the truth is that insurance coverage for grief counseling varies depending on your provider, plan, and diagnosis, and it isn’t required at all unless it’s used to treat a clinically diagnosed condition. 

Some type of grief will affect everyone at some point, and the symptoms can be devastating — from anxiety to anger to being unable to sleep; managing grief is an important part of life at some point. 

Continue reading to learn everything you need to know to answer the question: does insurance cover grief counseling? 

Medicare Coverage

Grief therapy techniques can be a crucial way to maintain mental well-being. Many people turn to it when faced with the passing of someone close. Fortunately, Medicare coverage can help pay for in-person or online grief counseling services.

To get covered grief counseling services under Medicare, you should consult your Evidence of Coverage to review your plan’s benefits. Talkspace also may provide online therapy covered by Medicare in select states, with more states to come. Medicare Advantage does not cover Talkspace online therapy at this time.

EAP Coverage Through Your Employer

Learning how to deal with grief can be especially helpful for those who’ve suffered a bereavement or experienced another significant life transition, like divorce or a major move.  

Employers may provide Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to assist employees in managing the pressures of daily life. What is an EAP, exactly? It’s a program that offers benefits to employees, often including counseling and other resources for mental health, substance abuse, financial concerns, legal matters, and grief counseling. Check with your HR department to find out details about coverage limits and costs associated with grief counseling services through an EAP program. 

You should also ask if there are any restrictions about where you can receive care. Some plans only permit visits within their network, while others may offer more leeway about provider selection outside the network. See if your plan requires pre-authorization before seeking treatment elsewhere.  

How to Get Grief Counseling Covered by Insurance

Grief counseling can be integral to the recovery journey following any loss. Unfortunately, accessing insurance coverage for grief counseling can sometimes be challenging. Here are some tips on how to get your grief counseling covered by health insurance.

1. Check Medicare coverage: The Medicare Part B program covers mental health services, which include grief counseling. Certain criteria must be met to be eligible, and there may be a cap on the number of sessions covered annually. Check with your provider before seeking treatment so you know what’s covered and what isn’t.
2. Ask your employer about your company’s EAP: If your employer offers an EAP plan, contact them to find out if they cover any portion of the cost of individual therapy sessions related to grieving a loved one’s death or another traumatic event in your life.
3. Seek private insurance: Private insurance plans vary widely when covering grief counseling expenses, so it’s best to contact your insurer directly if you want more information about their policies. In some cases, private insurers may cover a portion of the costs but have pre-authorization requirements or limits on visits per year that could result in higher co-pays or decreased reimbursement levels.

“Although general grief is not covered by most insurance plans due to a lack of diagnosis, in many cases, another underlying issue will be covered. Once in therapy, the client can discuss the grief and other issues (e.g., depression, anxiety, etc.).”

– Talkspace therapist Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW

Affordable Grief Counseling with or without Insurance

While insurance coverage for grief will depend on several factors, the reality is that even if you aren’t covered, you can still get access to cost-effective talk therapy without insurance through Talkspace. 

Talkspace provides convenient and affordable access to licensed therapists who can offer support through text messaging, video chat sessions, or audio calls from the comfort and safety of your home. Online therapy makes grief therapy easy, even for people in rural areas or who have limited transportation. Reach out to Talkspace today to learn more about grief therapy covered by insurance. We partner with major healthcare plans across the country like Cigna, Anthem, Aetna, Medicare, Optum, TRICARE, and more.

Learn more about Talkspace grief counseling today to get started.

Emotional Feelings After a Miscarriage

For a woman and people who menstruate, an early pregnancy loss can trigger a range of emotions. While not everyone reacts to miscarriage in the same way, it’s common for someone to experience feelings such as:

• Guilt 
• Fatigue 
• Grief
• Emotional stress
• Sadness
• Depression 
• Anger
• Jealousy
• Shock 
• Loneliness
• Hopelessness

Losing a pregnancy can cause hormone levels to rapidly shift, leading to mood swings and causing already-intense emotions to have even more of an impact on your emotional health. Be kind to yourself. Give yourself time to process your emotions. Remember, there’s no one or right way to grieve this loss as the grieving process is different for everyone.

“The emotional feelings experienced can affect some people more than others. It’s important to remember that not everyone will feel or act the same. The grief can be intense, and other symptoms such as fatigue, lack of appetite, guilt, anger, and depression may be present as well.”

– Talkspace therapist Cynthia Catchings, LCSW-S, LCSWC

Physical Feelings After a Miscarriage

Miscarriage at any stage can cause more than just emotional pain. There is a physical aspect that many women struggle to navigate. Many women deal with exhaustion, loss of appetite, or insomnia. Hormones responsible for pregnancy symptoms remain in your system after a miscarriage, which means some women might continue to experience nausea, swollen breasts, vaginal bleeding, or other physical symptoms even after the physical loss of their pregnancy.

While the body can usually heal from a miscarriage on its own, medical interventions may be necessary in some cases. For many, this can make the trauma of pregnancy loss more severe. If your doctor recommends an ultrasound or another type of treatment, reach out to loved ones for emotional support. You don’t have to try to go through this alone. 

How to Deal with a Miscarriage: 5 Things to Do

Dealing with miscarriage grief can be a difficult and painful process. While not everyone who experiences pregnancy loss goes through the same emotions, processing and acknowledging your grief can help you deal with your feelings in a healthy way so that you can heal. It will take time and it’s not something you can rush, but there are steps you can take that can help when it comes to how to deal with sadness after experiencing a miscarriage.   

1. Be open about your feelings

Many people feel like they need to grieve silently after a miscarriage, especially if they haven’t yet told friends or family that they were expecting. Bottling up your emotions can make negative feelings even more difficult to process and increase your risk for depression. 

If you’re not comfortable talking to people you know personally about your miscarriage, consider joining a support group. Sharing with others who’ve experienced pregnancy loss can remind you that you’re not alone and the emotions you’re experiencing are valid.

“Allowing yourself to feel and express your emotions as you try to understand and accept that they’re normal can be very helpful. Working with a therapist can be a supportive way to process your experience. Know there are caring professionals who want to support you.”

– Talkspace therapist Cynthia Catchings, LCSW-S, LCSWC

2. Give yourself a chance to grieve

Part of learning how to cope with miscarriage is giving yourself enough space and time to heal. The pain you’re feeling won’t go away overnight, and you shouldn’t feel pressured to move on or “get over” your feelings. 

While some women may choose to try for a new pregnancy immediately, it’s okay to wait if you’re not ready. Even if you’re physically able to conceive, you may not be emotionally ready for a new pregnancy, especially if you haven’t given yourself the chance to grieve your loss. That’s OK.

3. Take care of yourself 

After experiencing a traumatic loss, it can be common to neglect your basic needs. When you’re not eating or getting the sleep you need, it can be difficult for your body to recover from the physical strain of a miscarriage. Self-care and healthy coping skills will be incredibly important as you heal during this time. 

If you don’t have much of an appetite, try eating small, simple meals. It’s fine to order in or eat quick or prepared foods if you don’t feel up to cooking. What’s important is that your body is getting the nutrients it needs. 

Make sure that you’re resting as much as possible — sleep will be important throughout your recovery. Other ways you can be gentle with your mind and body include trying to do things like meditating, journaling for your mental health, or, if you’re up for it, going for a short walk or sitting outside for a bit during the day. Listen to the signs you need a mental health day off so you can focus on yourself.

4. Find ways to commemorate your loss

Many people who’ve gone through miscarriage find it helpful to memorialize their loss. After all, it’s a type of grief in itself. There are several ways to remember and honor the baby you lost. Memorials can be comforting and offer a sense of closure. 

Whether you choose a name for your baby, plant a tree in their honor, donate to a charity, or find another symbolic way to signify your loss, a memorial may help you feel the pregnancy you lost was real. You can involve friends and family members, or you can commemorate your loss privately. There’s no right or wrong way for you to do a ceremony like this. 

5. Remember that it’s not your fault 

Many people struggle with feelings of shame or guilt after losing a pregnancy. Instead of looking for ways to blame yourself, remember that your miscarriage isn’t your fault. More than half of first trimester miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities, which means there’s nothing you could have done that would have prevented the loss. 

Try to show yourself compassion during this difficult time. Instead of searching for things that you may have done wrong, remember that this loss was out of your control. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other people, like your doctor, partner, or other friends who’ve had a miscarriage, if you need reassurance. 

“By practicing healthy activities to cope, you can reduce the difficult emotions and symptoms. That may require willpower and pushing yourself, but the results are worth it.”

– Talkspace therapist Cynthia Catchings, LCSW-S, LCSWC

What Should You Not Do After a Miscarriage?

If you’ve lost a pregnancy, you may feel pressure from others to “move on” or “get over your pain.” You might feel as though you need to keep your loss a secret, or that you don’t know how to cope with miscarriage in the right way. 

Since it’s sometimes rare for people to talk openly about pregnancy loss, many myths exist about miscarriage. This can make it even more challenging for many women to navigate their emotions as they try to figure out how to deal with a miscarriage. Don’t listen to people who make negative or hurtful comments, and don’t feel like you have to grieve in a specific way. Grief is a process, and it’s just not something that you can rush or follow a playbook to get through. Each stage of grief requires time.

The way that you react to a miscarriage is deeply personal. Whether you’re feeling angry, frustrated, anxious, or are experiencing intense sadness, all of your feelings are normal. People have different ways of coping with miscarriage, and it’s best to deal with your loss in a way that feels right to you.

The Non-Linear Timeline of Grief

Grief is unique for each person, so when trying to determine how long grieving lasts, keep in mind that there’s no one-size-fits-all grief timeline. 

“Grieving is a unique experience and no one’s experience is the same. Similar emotions are felt at different points in the grieving cycle, but not in a pattern that can be predicted. This is normal and it’s perfectly acceptable. It’s important to allow emotions and thoughts to take place and work through them. There’s no set timeline of when grieving ends. In some sense, grief is never gone, but the severity of the grief diminishes over time.”

– Talkspace therapist Minkyung Chung, MS, LMHC

Grief can come in waves or cycles, with moments of intense sadness followed by periods of relative calm. This non-linear timeline means that the grieving process may take longer than expected, and setbacks can be common.

Some people feel better after a few weeks or months following their loss, but others might feel stuck in a cycle of pain and sorrow for years afterward.

Factors that can impact your grief

Many factors influence how we experience and process grief. This knowledge can help us better cope with our emotions.

• Duration: One of the most common questions people have after a loss is, “how long does grief last?” While there’s no definitive answer, generally speaking, it can take at least 6 months to begin to feel like you’re making progress in your healing journey.
• Type of loss: The intensity of your loss can impact how long you grieve and the type of grief you experience. When someone close to you passes away, or a relationship ends suddenly, it might take longer to heal than after a loss like losing a job or moving houses. Losing a parent, losing a spouse, or losing a child may result in a much longer grief timeline.
• Support system: Having an adequate support system around you as you grieve can be incredibly helpful in managing your emotions and helping you move through the stages of grief more quickly. This could include family members, friends, or even professional counselors specializing in bereavement counseling.
• Coping mechanisms: Different coping mechanisms work for different people when dealing with grief. For example, some people find comfort in talking about their feelings. Others may prefer activities like exercise or creative pursuits such as writing or painting. Experiment with different tools until you find something that works best for you.
• Your circumstances: Life circumstances will affect how quickly (or slowly) your grieving process progresses. If other areas of your life are going well, navigating grief might be more manageable. However, when life is more complex, it can compound the stress of your grief.
• Physical health: Lastly, physical health should always be considered when processing intense emotional states associated with grief. When you’re run down physically, your mental state can be even more taxing.

Stages of grief

Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross first identified the stages of grief in the late 1960s. She pinpointed five distinct stages of grief.

Denial

Denial is often the first stage of grief, where an individual refuses to accept the reality of a loss. They may deny any feelings associated with their loss or attempt to avoid thinking about it altogether. This stage can help you cope with the shock of what’s happened and provide you with time to adjust before moving on to other emotions.

Anger

Anger is a common emotion during grief. It can manifest in various forms, like blaming yourself or others for what has happened or feeling frustrated about being unable to change the situation. Finding healthy outlets is essential if your anger becomes something you’re struggling to manage.

Bargaining

Bargaining occurs when you try (often subconsciously) to negotiate a way out of pain. For example, you might make deals with yourself (If I do X then Y won’t happen) or with your higher power (Please let me have one more day). While this behavior might temporarily relieve emotional distress, it’s usually short-lived. Bargaining ultimately can’t address the underlying issues that must be faced for healing to happen.

Depression

Depression might follow bargaining, but it doesn’t always have to. As you accept reality, you might still feel overwhelmed by your sadness. This can lead to deep despair and feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.

Acceptance

Acceptance doesn’t mean forgetting what was lost, but instead it involves coming to terms with the absence and understanding how life will continue. The acceptance stage might mean you’re having less intense emotions than you experience during earlier phases. It allows you the space to heal emotionally and move forward again without feeling weighed down constantly by sadness and regret.

While these stages are commonly accepted as part of the grieving process, they may not necessarily occur in this order — or at all for some people. And for those that experienced an unexpected loss, they may have unresolved grief. Either way, grief is part of the healing process of moving on after losing a loved one.

How Long Does Someone Usually Grieve for?

How long does grieving last on average? The length of time someone grieves will depend on you, your circumstances, and the type of significant loss you’ve experienced. On average, normal grief can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years or more. Research shows that many people find their grief starts to improve within about 6 months after a loss. 

Does Grieving Ever Stop?

Grieving never truly stops because our lives are forever changed when we lose someone we love. Over time, however, we can learn how to cope with our new reality. This allows us to start healing emotionally and can eventually lead us to acceptance. Of course, there will always be moments when you miss the person you lost.

“Grief is a complicated emotion and hard to truly define. However, it’s something that’s felt by just about every person. In that sense, grief doesn’t ever stop or go away. The pain of grief does lessen over time. The impact of the loss will always be there so the pain will always be there. It’s acknowledging that it exists and continuing to move forward with it.”

– Talkspace therapist Minkyung Chung, MS, LMHC

How to Make Grief Easier to Cope with

Although there isn’t an exact timeline that answers the question: how long should it take to grieve, there are some things you can do to make it easier to cope:

• Allow yourself space and time – Give yourself permission, not only physically but mentally, to take breaks away from work/family commitments if needed. Give yourself plenty of space and quiet moments alone if you need them.  
• Take care of yourself – Make sure you take care of your physical needs. Eat healthy meals regularly and try to exercise daily — even a short walk can do wonders for your well-being. Do things that bring you joy. Read books, listen to music, be creative, and do anything you love. Doing small daily acts of self-care will help you slowly build resilience over time.
• Seek help from professionals – Talking about your feelings with a therapist or counselor can be incredibly beneficial as you learn how to deal with grief. They can teach you effective grief therapy techniques that help you cope with the pain.

1. Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown

Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown is a thoughtful and compassionate exploration of grief’s complexities. Through her own experiences and those shared by others, Brown offers insight into how to cope with loss in meaningful ways in one of the best grief books available.

“We get to explore what it means to experience 87 of the emotions and experiences that dramatically influence us. And! What we can do about them when we get flooded out with them.”

– Talkspace therapist Meaghan Rice, PsyD, LPC

2. On Grief and Grieving by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler

Kübler-Ross first coined the five stages of grief and loss for us — denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance — and On Grief and Grieving shares how we can walk through those stages with a comprehensive understanding of the grieving process. This grief book covers sections about sadness, dreams, isolation, and recovery.

“This book gives us a structured approach to grief and loss that allows for certain personality traits to grieve with a plan. It feels good to have a slice of control over our own grief journey.”

– Talkspace therapist Meaghan Rice, PsyD, LPC

3. Grief One Day at a Time  – by Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt

Grief One Day at a Time: 365 Meditations to Help You Heal After Loss is an invaluable resource for anyone who’s experienced the loss of a loved one. Written by grief counselor and psychotherapist Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt, this book offers daily meditations that provide comfort and guidance through the grieving process, with support every day for 365 days after a loss. 

“Being in the present moment is a skill that we can learn to only process the things that are coming up for us now, rather than in the past or the future. It can reduce the overwhelm to live like this.”

– Talkspace therapist Meaghan Rice, PsyD, LPC

4. Bearing the Unbearable by Joanne Cacciatore

The death of someone close is often so overwhelming that you feel alone in your pain. Cacciatore’s grief book helps readers understand their emotions and provides practical strategies for dealing with them healthily. Each short chapter can stand alone, walking with you as you navigate the grieving process.

5. How to Go on Living When Someone You Love Dies by Terese A. Rando

The goal is healing and finding peace in life again despite loss — something that may seem impossible right now but can become a reality over time with dedication and effort.

How to Go on Living When Someone You Love Dies offers comfort and support for people who are grieving. The book includes lessons on understanding your grief so you can let go, remembering how to take care of yourself along the way, getting through milestones like birthdays and holidays, and finding acceptance. 

6. I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye by Brook Noel

Coming to terms with loss is the most difficult part of grief. Though it’s natural to feel overwhelmed, in one of her books about grief, I Wasn’t Ready To Say Goodbye, author Brook Noel encourages the reader to look beyond their sorrow. She offers guidance and practical strategies on how to cope with the emotional and physical aspects of death and grief.

7. The Other Side of Sadness by George A. Bonanno, PhD

The Other Side of Sadness takes an unexpected look at and approach to grief. It goes beyond the traditional 5 stages of grief we’ve come to accept and anticipate, instead viewing the process as far from unpredictable. Bonanno acknowledges that we all have an incredible capacity for resilience as we face our grief. 

8. Straight Talk About Death for Teenagers by Earl A. Grollman

Written for teens who’ve experienced a significant loss, Straight Talk About Death for Teenagers shares what to do when coping with loss at such a young age. Approachable and relatable, this is one of those books on grief where Grollman brings light to a much-ignored segment of grief. This also is the best book for young people that are dealing with the loss of a parent.

9. It’s OK That You’re Not OK by Megan Devine

Written by someone who’s experienced her own devastating loss, Devine explores grief in her book through the lens that you shouldn’t necessarily be trying to get “back to normal.” Rather, true healing comes when you focus on forging a new path that encompasses your grieving heart as a part of your life moving forward. 

10. Surviving the Holidays Without You by Gary Roe

The pain of loss is amplified with each (and sometimes every) major holiday or significant date you must get through after you lose a loved one. Surviving the Holidays Without You gives a roadmap to turn painful holidays into days that can help you heal. 

11. Heartbroken by Gary Roe

Gary Roe makes our list twice with his book about how losing a spouse can cause a unique form of grief that’s both painful and, at times, explosive. In Heartbroken: Healing from the Loss of a Spouse, Roe helps you heal and get through the emotions common to this specific type of loss. 

12. Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

If the traditional self-help format doesn’t resonate as you cope with loss, Reasons to Stay Alive addresses grief through a memoir. Walk with Haig as he recounts his loss and survival, overcoming the crisis and personal health struggles that almost took everything. 

13. The Comfort Book by Matt Haig

Yet another Matt Haig book makes our list. The Comfort Book is a thoughtful, reflective look at some of the darkest times Haig survived. His story is interwoven with references to historical, scientific, and worldly occurrences from our past, all in a true testament to the power of resilience. 

14. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

The Year Of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion is an insightful look into what it means to grieve after losing someone close to you. While their daughter was in the hospital on life support, Didion’s husband suddenly and unexpectedly suffered a massive, fatal heart attack. Didion shares her thoughts on denial, guilt, anger, and acceptance as she helps the reader understand their feelings better and ultimately move forward.

15. Surviving the Death of A Sibling by T. J. Wray

Wray’s thoughtful look at her own loss acknowledges the difficulty of losing an adult sibling. While all losses are painful to overcome, there are unique challenges that come with siblings dying who are adults, have spouses, and possibly are already parents themselves. Surviving the Death of A Sibling explores how to navigate this very specific type of loss, with advice for understanding and managing each stage.

16. A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney

A Heart That Works shares comedian Rob Delaney’s poignant journey through the grief of losing his young son to a brain tumor. This book offers a raw, honest, and deeply personal account of his emotional rollercoaster, providing a unique perspective from a father’s viewpoint, which is often underrepresented in books on grief. Delaney’s narrative is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, making it a significant resource for any grieving parent, particularly fathers seeking connection and understanding in their sorrow.

17. Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Notes on Grief is a powerful reflection on the personal nature of mourning, written after the sudden death of the author’s father. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie turns her formidable storytelling skills to her own grief, capturing the complex tangle of emotions that a grieving person navigates. 

The book is both a tribute to her father and a narrative that explores the universality and uniqueness of grief. Adichie’s candid and heartfelt prose provides comfort and understanding to anyone grappling with the loss of a loved one, making it one of the best books on grief.

Finding Support for Grief With Talkspace

If you’re searching for support and tools that will help you cope with grief, consider reading one of the recommended books in this list. If you are feeling overwhelmed and need more professional support, turn to Talkspace. You don’t have to deal with your grief alone. Online grief counseling at Talkspace can help you learn how to deal with grief by teaching you a variety of grief therapy techniques. Get connected today to start healing in your grief journey.

What is Delayed Grief?

Delayed grief is an emotional response to loss that doesn’t manifest until long after the initial event. It can be challenging to recognize because it often appears as if there’s no reason for sadness or other emotions related to grieving. 

This type of delayed grief trigger can occur due to shock, denial, guilt, or simply being overwhelmed by the situation. Some studies suggest that not immediately processing grief won’t always lead to delayed grief in the future, but more research is still needed. 

What triggers delayed grief?

Several things can trigger delayed grief, including traumatic events like death or divorce, significant life changes such as moving away from home, and unresolved issues from childhood like physical or emotional abuse or neglect. Other potential triggers may include physical illness, financial problems, and relationship difficulties. 

Regardless of what triggers grief, it’s important to remember that everyone grieves differently. There is no “right” way to do so – even if your feelings don’t surface immediately after your loss.

“Wakanda Forever, the latest Black Panther film, addressed the death of the main character/actor Chadwick Boseman. The writers focused on what happens when we hold on to guilt and shame surrounding the loss. Those feelings are often turned into anger directed outwardly. Chadwick’s death opened a larger conversation about grief.”

– Talkspace therapist Dr. Karmen Smith LCSW DD

Symptoms of Delayed Grief

The symptoms associated with delayed grief response are similar to those experienced during acute bereavement (the period immediately following a death). 

Symptoms of delayed grief may include: 

Intense emotions like:

• Anger
• Guilt
• Depression 
• Anxiety
• Sadness
  

Physical symptoms like: 

• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Changes in appetite
• Sleep disturbances
• Withdrawal from social activities
• Feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks
• Lack of motivation 
• Energy levels dropping significantly lower than usual

Additionally, some people may experience intrusive thoughts about their deceased loved one, which can lead to flashbacks or nightmares. As these dreams or thoughts fade away when reality sets back in, they can trigger another grief response. 

Causes of Delayed Grief

Even though it’s not unusual for people to experience delayed grief, it can be hard to understand why it happens. Here are some common causes of delayed grief:

You’ve had enough time after the loss

Sometimes, you need time to process your emotions before fully grieving. For example, when someone dies suddenly, you may not have had enough time to come to terms with their death and start grieving right away. Unfortunately, this means that your feelings may catch up with you later on down the line when you finally have enough space in your life for them.

The busyness is over

Another cause of delayed grief is related to the busyness that takes over following a loss. Taking care of practical matters like funeral arrangements, sorting out finances, and reaching out to friends and family might not leave much time for processing emotions. Then, once everything else has been taken care of, there’s nothing left but you and your feelings. This can lead to intense bouts of delayed grief surfacing in the future.

You’re faced with sudden reminders

Sometimes reminders from everyday life can trigger an unexpected wave of grief, according to studies. You might hear a song that reminds you of your lost loved one. You may see something they used to enjoy doing. These sudden interactions could bring up emotions without warning — even if it’s been months since their passing.

How to Deal With Delayed Grief: 6 Tips

Delayed grief can begin weeks, months, or even years after the death of a loved one. It’s important to acknowledge that delayed grief is just as valid and authentic as immediate grief. However, because of this (sometimes extensive) gap between loss and grief starting, it can be challenging to know how to navigate this time. 

Here are six tips on how best to deal with this type of complicated emotion:

1. Find support

Reach out for help if needed so you don’t feel alone during this difficult period. Talk openly about what you’re going through with people who’ll listen without judgment, such as close friends and family members who knew your lost loved one.  

2. Seek grief counseling

If talking doesn’t seem enough, consider seeking professional help with online grief counseling. Therapists trained in bereavement counseling can offer advice tailored to help you manage intense emotions stemming from delayed grief.

3. Practice mindfulness

Some quiet moments each day dedicated to activities like yoga, mindfulness meditation, or journaling can help clear your mind while allowing space for reflection. These acts can bring clarity to thoughts and emotions, potentially making healing easier.

4. Be kind to yourself

Remember that there’s no right way when it comes down to grieving, so allow yourself to take all the time necessary, without any pressure from anyone else. Self-care means not pushing yourself too hard, either. Get plenty of rest, eat healthy meals, and do something you enjoy daily. It can even be small things, like watching your favorite movie or walking in your favorite neighborhood.

5. Let yourself feel

Allow yourself to fully experience all the different emotions connected with losing someone. Don’t suppress your feelings or think you need to move on quickly. It’s ok to cry, shout, and scream — do whatever feels right for you because, eventually, those feelings will start to fade naturally once you express them.

“It’s important to know that the way you go through the loss of a loved one may look different from another person. There could be times when people may think you are not grieving the way they think you should. This is where self-awareness comes in. If you are aware that your view of the world has gotten more dark, scary or less loving after your loss, then you could be stuck in one of the stages of grief and may need help to move through it.”

– Talkspace therapist Dr. Karmen Smith, LCSW, DD

6. Honor the loss

Lastly, find ways to honor the memory of the person you lost. This could mean creating a photo album full of pictures together, writing a poem, holding a memorial, or doing something meaningful that was important to them. Sharing stories with others can keep your loved one’s legacy alive forever, and that can help you move through the grieving process. 

“Many people focus on what they have lost, and there may not be much healing. Switching their focus to what they gained from that person being in their life can bring huge healing.”

– Talkspace therapist Dr. Karmen Smith LCSW DD

Address Your Grief with Talkspace

Delayed grief occurs when you experience the death of a loved one but don’t process your emotions until much later. This can cause confusion and distress for those affected by delayed grief. Fortunately, there are ways to address this type of grief, including through online grief counseling with Talkspace. 

Online therapy services offer support for any grief, including when it’s delayed. By connecting with experienced therapists at Talkspace, you’ll have access to helpful resources and personalized guidance that helps you cope in these trying times. Join Talkspace today to start healing from delayed grief with effective grief therapy techniques.

Possible Reactions to the Loss of a Child

Grieving the loss of a child is unimaginable. It can be overwhelming and confusing, leaving you feeling isolated and alone. Understanding the possible reactions you might have to this type of grief can help and provide some form of comfort.

“There are so many feelings that a parent will have after losing a child. Feelings can range from intense shock, confusion, disbelief, anger, depression, hopelessness, guilt, isolation, disorganized thoughts, and feelings of acceptance.”

– Talkspace therapist Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW

Shock

A very common reaction to a child’s death, you may be in denial about what’s happened and unable to process or accept your loss. While this is normal, it’s important not to stay in this state for too long, or it can lead to further emotional stress.

Anger

Experiencing types of anger is also a normal emotion when grieving the loss of a son or daughter. You can feel angry at your situation, at God or fate, or even at those around you who are still alive and well. Don’t be afraid to express your feelings. Talking about your anger with friends or family might help release some of the intensity of your emotion.

Guilt

Guilt often accompanies grief over losing a child. You might feel guilty for not being able to protect or save your child. Maybe you feel guilty for having survived when they didn’t. These natural emotions can surface after a traumatic event like the loss of a child.  

Depression

Depression is expected after the death of someone close — especially when it’s a child. However, depression can become debilitating if left unchecked. It’s a good idea to seek help from a mental health professional who specializes in coping with grief-related issues like depression after a loss.

Sadness

Sadness and crying are both natural reactions to grief. Crying helps release pent-up emotions, making space for healing. When it comes to how to deal with sadness, allow yourself moments where tears flow freely without judgment.

Anxiety

Finally, anxiety can arise as upcoming events like birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays approach. Significant dates can spark painful memories, causing pain to resurface as you try to deal with and accept the loss of a daughter or son. When it comes to how to deal with anxiety, try engaging in activities that bring joy into your life, like spending time outdoors and visiting places associated with happy memories.

Understand the Non-Linear Aspect of Grief

Grief is a complex emotion that’s often difficult to understand. One of the most important things to remember when dealing with grief is that it does not follow a linear path. Instead, grief often ebbs and flows, sometimes hitting us in unexpected ways or at random times. Recognizing this non-linear aspect of grief can help you prepare for what lies ahead.

How long does grief last after the death of a child?

Grief is a natural and necessary response to death. It can be an overwhelming emotion that affects us in many ways, both physically and emotionally. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to “How long does grief last?” but the important thing to remember is that the timeline will be different for everyone.

Helping the family while dealing with your own grief

If there are other young children involved, watching you navigate through your grief will be influential for them. It’s best for the surviving child to learn healthy coping mechanisms from a family member.

Don’t Dismiss Your Own Personal Grief

You will probably feel overwhelmed by sadness, guilt, and anger after your loss. Unfortunately, it can be easy to dismiss your grief when faced with tragedy. Make sure you validate your feelings as you process grief, though. Otherwise, you won’t truly heal.

Acknowledge your feelings: It’s essential to acknowledge your feelings and grieving process to take enough time to process them. Resist the urge to push away or ignore your emotions. Allow yourself space and time to grieve properly. You may find comfort in talking about your bereavement with friends or family members.

Seek professional help if needed: If you find that you’re struggling more than usual after the death of a child, don’t hesitate to seek professional help from a mental health provider or therapist. They can provide support and guidance as you work through your grief journey.

Take care of yourself physically and mentally: Taking care of your physical and mental health is critical during this time. Try to make sure you: 

• Get enough restful sleep each night
• Eat balanced meals throughout the day
• Exercise regularly (even if it’s just taking short walks)
• Drink plenty of water
• Give yourself time to do things that bring you joy
• Read books or magazines 
• Do hobbies you love

Spending quality “me time” — also known as self care — has been proven in studies to reduce stress and anxiety.

Find support from others who’ve experienced loss: Finding support from people who’ve experienced similar losses can be incredibly helpful too. Many online forums are dedicated to grieving the loss of a child. There, you can share stories and get tips on how others cope with their parental grief. Opening up to people who can relate to your pain might provide much-needed solace.

“Grief is a process. When a person is grieving, it’s important that they take the time to heal (especially the loss of a child). There is no right way to grieve, and there’s no correct amount of time. Just allow yourself to go through the motions and the process and acknowledge the feelings that you’re having. On some days, you may be more active, and on others, you may not have the energy to do anything — that’s OK. Other things include reaching out for support, attending a grief support group, creating a journal, meditating, and exercising.” – Talkspace therapist Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW

Understand Loss Can Be Experienced Differently for Each Partner

Losing a child can put immense strain on a marriage, as each partner grieves in their own way and may not understand how the other is feeling. This difference in grieving styles can cause tension between partners if they don’t take the time to understand one another’s needs. Try to remember that grief looks different for everyone, even within the same family. 

• Emotions: One spouse may become emotionally overwhelmed with sadness and express it openly, while the other may be stoic or try to remain strong for their partner. 

• Communication style: One parent might want to talk about their loss constantly, while the other prefers not to bring it up at all. 

• Guilt: It’s very common for parents to experience guilt over how they’re handling their loss. Both parents need to acknowledge that there isn’t a “right” or “wrong” way to deal with such an emotional tragedy.  

• Disconnect: It’s normal for couples to feel disconnected from one another due to these differences in coping mechanisms; however, communication is especially vital during this time. Make sure to be open about what works best for each of you when discussing your feelings about the loss of your child. This might mean talking often, or it could mean taking breaks from conversations about it. Both parties need to feel heard and understood by one another during this painful process.

Provide Support for the Siblings

When a child dies, it can be difficult for the parents to know how to support other children. However, it’s important to remember that, like the parents, siblings will experience grief differently and in their own way. Here are some tips on how you can help your other children through this challenging time:

• Acknowledge their feelings: Parents need to acknowledge the feelings of all siblings, even if they don’t express them outwardly. Allow children to talk about their brother or sister and provide an open, safe space where they feel comfortable expressing themselves without judgment or criticism.

• Be patient with different reactions: Grief manifests itself differently in everyone, so be patient with different reactions from each sibling. For example, some children may become withdrawn while others act out. Both reactions should be accepted as “normal” responses to such a traumatic event.

• Provide comfort and support: Give hugs, listen when your child wants to talk about his/her brother or sister, and be available whenever needed. If possible, try setting aside special times dedicated solely to talking about memories of the lost child, together as a family unit.

• Encourage healthy coping mechanisms: Coping tools can include things like journaling for mental health or participating in activities that bring joy, art projects, or outdoor activities. This can help keep things positive while providing an outlet for negative emotions stemming from grief-related stressors.

• Allow time for grieving processes to take place: Understand that grieving takes time, so don’t rush your children into “getting over” what has happened too quickly. Let them take however long they need to process their feelings. Only then should you attempt any closure.

“Let children know it’s OK to be upset. Allow them the space to express their feelings. Provide books to read and do activities together that honor the sibling. Attend counseling.”

– Talkspace therapist Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW

Seek Grief Counseling to Work Through the Pain

Grief is a natural response to the loss of a loved one, especially when that person is a child. Grieving is a complicated and painful process, but it doesn’t have to be done alone. What is grief counseling? Also known as bereavement counseling or grief therapy, it can help you work through your pain in a safe and supportive environment through a variety of grief therapy techniques.

Learn to Accept Happiness After the Loss of a Child

Finding happiness after loss feels impossible, and it probably seems unfathomable now, but there is a way for you to work through this loss. Your life will never, ever, be the same, but one day in the future, you will start finding happiness again.  

Work Through Your Grief with Talkspace

The process of grieving the loss of a child is a harrowing experience, and no two people experience it in the same way. Seeking out professional online grief counseling can be beneficial in helping you work through your grief, as therapists can offer personalized treatment plans tailored to each user’s needs. Finding joy again after tragedy is difficult, but it is possible. 

Talkspace is an online therapy platform that provides support for those dealing with the death of a child. Online therapy makes getting help for grief simple, convenient, and accessible. Learn more about how Talkspace can help with your grief today. 

How to Cope with the Loss of a Parent: 9 Tips

The grieving process can be overwhelming and all-consuming. According to studies, losing a parent can put us at high risk for physical and mental complications. One of the most important things to remember is you shouldn’t expect to feel any particular way or that your healing process will follow a specific timeline. 

“Helpful tactics to cope with the loss of a parent include creating a memorial that celebrates their life; reserving some time and space to allow raw emotions to show up; accepting that how our grief shows up is exactly what we need; directing our behavior toward happiness because our parents would want that for us; directing our attention towards positive memories.”

– Talkspace therapist Meaghan Rice, PsyD, LPC

The following tips can help you cope as you experience the devastating loss of a parent.

1. Embrace your grief and emotions fully

Allow yourself to experience all of your emotions as they come up. Don’t try to suppress or ignore them. Instead, acknowledge what you’re feeling and let it out in whatever way feels right for you.

2. Understand that grief isn’t linear

Everyone’s grieving process is different, and there is no “right” way to do it. As a result, you may find yourself going back and forth between different stages of grief — denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance — multiple times before finding peace with parental loss.

3. Don’t give yourself a timeline for your grief

While you might be asking yourself how long does grief last, it’s important to know there’s no expiration date or set-in-stone timeline. Research shows that intense types of grief over the loss of a parent can last for 1 – 5 years, so don’t try to rush the process. Grief isn’t something a person can force. 

4. Make self-care a priority

When learning how to deal with parental death, make sure you take care of yourself during this time. Self-care can be simple, small tasks that encourage you to prioritize your health — emotional and physical. Practice self-care acts by:

• Getting enough sleep
• Eating healthy meals regularly
• Exercising when possible (even if that just means taking short walks)
• Spending time outdoors if weather permits
• Meditating/praying/journaling
• Doing activities that bring joy into your life (listening to music/watching movies) 
• Connecting with friends and family members who understand what you’re going through

5. Do special things to honor and remember them

Find ways to honor the person’s memory. For example, you can make photo albums or scrapbooks with pictures from happy moments. Share or write letters expressing unconditional love & gratitude. Anything that helps keep their spirit alive can let you process and then release some of the pain and emotion you feel.

6. Talk about them

Talking about your intense feelings and the parent you lost helps you process your emotions better. Bottling things up inside can lead to depression over time. If talking directly about them makes you uncomfortable or feels too painful, you can simply talk about how their absence has impacted your life instead. Either in therapy, support group, or among close friends and family members, talking to people who understand what you’re going through at this moment can be tremendously beneficial.

7. Sit in your feelings

Acceptance doesn’t mean forgetting. It’s about learning how to deal with the death of a parent and not having their physical presence around any longer. Give yourself space and freedom from guilt, shame, or judgment while grieving the loss of a parent. Your feelings are natural and valid, even if they’re painful.  

8. Have a support system on hand

Having a support group who genuinely understands what you’re going through helps immensely during tough times like these when you need support more than ever. These people could be close friends, family members, or colleagues at work/school/college — whoever understands your pain best should be part of your support system throughout your journey ahead.

9. Start grief therapy

Sometimes it can be challenging for people who haven’t experienced a similar loss to understand how excruciating grief can be. Unfortunately, this might make you too uncomfortable to reach out for help when you need it most. 

If you don’t have a strong support system, online grief counseling can help, whether through group sessions or private. Treatment can give you the tools you need to move through complicated grief. 

When to Get Help for Your Grief

Grief is often overwhelming and confusing, leaving you feeling helpless and alone. While it’s essential to take time to grieve in your own way, there are times when seeking professional help may be necessary. 

It’s important to recognize when you need help dealing with complicated grief so you can begin healing and find closure. If your emotions become too overwhelming or start affecting other areas of your life, it may be time to take the first step and start grief therapy. A therapist can teach you grief therapy techniques to manage your intense feelings and work through them in healthy ways.

“Grief takes time, but if we notice that the grief is gravely impacting other areas of our lives, we should access professional help. If our relationships are suffering, our work feels impossible, we cannot eat, sleep, focus, or we find ourselves constantly ruminating and losing hope in our outlook, we should ask a professional to help.”

– Talkspace therapist Meaghan Rice, PsyD, LPC

It’s normal to feel sad or overwhelmed after the death of a loved one. However, if you’re finding it hard to function and get through daily activities like work or school, it might be time to seek grief counseling or professional help.  

Finding Support with Talkspace Through the Loss of a Parent

Remember that it’s normal and natural to feel grief, sadness, and other emotions after losing a parent. Also, keep in mind there’s no right or wrong way to grieve. There are many ways to cope on your own — like by embracing your emotions or finding support from friends and family members — but sometimes you might need more to process the loss of a parent. 

Talkspace offers online therapy services that provide an accessible way for those grieving the loss of a parent to get the help they need to heal. Losing a parent is never easy, but by taking care of yourself emotionally and mentally, you will eventually find peace within yourself again.

Are you struggling after losing a parent? You don’t have to go through this alone. Talkspace therapists can offer support and guidance during grief, helping you navigate life’s challenges in a healthy way. Our team of experienced professionals is here for you. A Talkspace grief counselor can help create personalized plans that will empower you on your journey toward healing from a parent’s death.  

Learn how to deal with grief through Talkspace today.

1. Understand the Stages of Grief

Surviving the death of a wife or husband can be overwhelming and confusing. It can leave you feeling lost. Understanding the stages of grief, though, can help you cope with your feelings.

How to do it: Review the following stages below, so you understand what you’re going through and why. Note that the stages of grief don’t necessarily go in any specific order, and you can revisit them multiple times. There are many books about grief that walk you through each of these stages.

Denial  

Denial is often an initial reaction to losing a spouse. It helps protect us from the pain we feel when faced with reality or when we can’t accept what has happened. During this stage, feeling isolated from others is common.

Anger 

As denial fades away, anger might take its place. Anger can be directed at yourself, your loved ones, God or a higher power, fate itself, or even your deceased spouse.

Bargaining

Anger often manifests through bargaining as you try to make deals to undo the tragedy that has occurred.

Depression 

Depression commonly follows anger. As you come face-to-face with reality, you might reflect on everything you lost. Dreams shared, plans made, and memories created — now gone forever.

Acceptance 

Don’t confuse acceptance with happiness. It’s an understanding that certain things are beyond your control. After the loss of a spouse, acceptance might bring hope as you start to heal and allow yourself permission to look toward new beginnings as a widow.  

2. Know That Your Grief is Not Forever

Grieving the death of a spouse is both natural and necessary. When we’re in it, it can be difficult to believe our intense grief won’t last forever. In fact, you might constantly wonder how long does grief last? Does it ever go away? While the grief never really goes away, it’s really important to trust that you’ll eventually heal from the intensity of the pain and find peace.

How to do it: Remind yourself that you’re strong and can get through this. Using affirmations or journaling for your mental health can be helpful ways to navigate your intense grief. 

3. Give Yourself the Grace to Feel the Pain

Losing a husband or wife is an emotional rollercoaster, and it’s okay if you don’t always feel in control. Allow yourself time and space to experience your emotions without judgment or guilt. 

How to do it: You may find comfort in talking with friends or family members about how you’re feeling.

4. Find a Support System

Whether it’s a close friend or family member who is willing to listen, or it’s an online forum or support group where people share their experiences, having people around who understand what you’re going through can make all the difference during this difficult time. 

How to do it: Consider joining a local bereavement group for additional support. You can find strength when you spend time with others who’ve gone through similar losses. If you don’t feel comfortable in a group setting, find one or two people you can go to any time, day or night. 

6. Honor Your Loved One

Honoring the memory of your loved one can seem hard at first, but celebrating happy moments can ultimately bring peace into your life again over time. 

How to do it: Look back on old photos, watch home videos, or talk about funny stories — anything that helps keep their spirit alive can be comforting.

7. Reach Out to Friends and Family

Even though being alone might seem easier, make an effort every day to reach out to people socially. It’ll help you rebuild connections with others while still allowing space for you to process your feelings.

“It can be hard to move past the loss of a spouse. Going through the mourning process is part of healing. It’s important to acknowledge your thoughts and feelings during this time. Surround yourself with family and friends so you can get the support you need.”

– Talkspace therapist Bisma Anwar, LMHC

How to do it: Being social while grieving a spouse can feel unbearable. Start small by attending events within familiar circles — try church groups, book clubs, or other groups you once got together with — then gradually work towards larger gatherings once you’re more comfortable doing so.

8. Remember There’s No “Right Way” to Grieve

Everyone experiences loss differently — some people need more alone time, while others prefer distractions like volunteering or spending time with friends. Do what works best for you while you’re surviving the death of your wife or husband. Your comfort zone is perfectly acceptable — don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

How to do it: Give yourself time and space when and where you need it. There’s no playbook, and your feelings and needs are entirely valid. 

9. Seek Help Through Grief Counseling

If your feelings become overwhelming at any point during the grieving process, seek professional assistance from therapists specializing in grief counseling. 

How to do it: Grief therapy techniques can help you cope with bereavement issues. If you’re struggling, reach out for professional help as soon as things feel too much to bear.

Find Ways to Survive the Loss of a Spouse with Talkspace

Grief is a normal and necessary part of the healing process, but it’s important to remember that you can eventually find peace and acceptance. With Talkspace, you can find support in navigating your journey after losing a spouse.  

Talkspace offers online therapy sessions, providing an accessible way to connect with licensed therapists from anywhere, at any time. Talkspace is making it easier for people struggling with different types of grief. You’ll receive support from experienced professionals explicitly trained to help you deal with bereavement-related issues so you can heal emotionally over time.