How to handle grief — getting through it, day by day
There's no fixing this. But there are ways to carry it.
It's just happened. You're numb, on autopilot, somehow meant to function.
— Right now
- Do the next thing only. Don't look at the whole mountain — the next call, the next hour.
- Eat, drink water, lie down even if sleep won't come. Grief is physical.
- Let people help — the casserole, the lift, the paperwork. Say yes.
- Feel what comes, however it comes. There's no wrong way to do this.
— Don't
- Don't make big decisions now — they can wait.
- Don't numb it with a bottle every night — it parks the grief, doesn't clear it.
— Later
- Tell one person you trust that you're not okay. You don't have to carry it solo.
It's just happened. You're numb, on autopilot, somehow meant to function.
— Right now
- Do the next thing only. Don't look at the whole mountain — the next call, the next hour.
- Eat, drink water, lie down even if sleep won't come. Grief is physical.
- Let people help — the casserole, the lift, the paperwork. Say yes.
- Feel what comes, however it comes. There's no wrong way to do this.
— Don't
- Don't make big decisions now — they can wait.
- Don't numb it with a bottle every night — it parks the grief, doesn't clear it.
— Later
- Tell one person you trust that you're not okay. You don't have to carry it solo.
Grief: the short version
- 1.Do the next thing only — not the mountain.
- 2.Eat, drink, move. Grief is physical.
- 3.Let the wave come. It peaks and passes.
- 4.There's no schedule and no 'should'.
- 5.Reach out first. Don't grieve it alone.
Doing it tough?Call Lifeline 13 11 14