And now, what do I do?

What roles did your person fulfill, and which ones do you now have to manage or reorganize so that someone else can help you?

Experiencing a death loss — whether it be a spouse, a friend, a family member, a parent, or someone who played a significant role in your life — can be an overwhelming and devastating experience. The emotions may range from intense sadness and shock to confusion and profound grief. When someone close dies, it often leaves a void that can be hard to fill. Beyond the immediate emotional impact, there is also the challenge of moving forward with daily life without their presence and support. A death loss can touch every aspect of your life, from family dynamics to social connections and even work responsibilities.

You may even find new responsibilities managing the roles your person used to handle. Support networks, family, and friends can help you reorganize your daily life. People are always willing to help: some are good at providing ideas, others are experts at managing tasks, and some can help by running errands — whatever you need. These support networks will give you better chances of resuming everyday life with improved quality. But asking for help and being open to receiving it is essential. Know that you are not alone in the responsibility for those you care for, and you will always find people willing to collaborate, but you must be willing to request it.

In your mourning, there will be many new aspects you will have to manage, starting with yourself:

• Identifying your feelings.

• Expressing them openly.

• Asking for help if needed.

• Sharing your pain and concerns.

• Giving yourself time.

• Not pressuring yourself to heal quickly.

• Not demanding too much from yourself.

• Not avoiding or denying excessively.

• Being patient and considerate with yourself.

Accept that you are grieving a significant death loss and will be in an atypical, painful situation that requires many changes for a considerable amount of time.

Understanding and acceptance will help make it easier to adapt and manage various emotional, cognitive, physiological, and spiritual aspects that arise during mourning. Grief touches everything: family, work, social, and economic aspects. Help and support from others can help ease the many challenges one may face during bereavement.

As you navigate your grief, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. The HealGrief® & AMF community are here for you, offering a safe and supportive space to share your experiences and feelings. Through this community, many have found strength in shared experiences and support from others in their healing journey.