While many of us know that the death of a parent is something that is bound to happen, we are never prepared for it. It doesn’t matter if you are a little kid or a seasoned adult, it will still catch you off guard. You aren’t just losing your parent, you are losing a part of you. Someone who has been with you your whole life.

Any number of feelings will present themselves at the death of a parent. And chances are, you won’t feel the same feeling the whole time. You will cycle through a number of feelings. Sometimes these feelings will be overwhelming, sometimes they will be minor. The length that your emotions will be tied to the death of a parent varies for every person.

Sometimes you may feel as if you are feeling grief longer than you should. People around you might even be telling your that you shouldn’t still be feeling grief. Especially if you are a seasoned adult. But again, grief is different for every person.

What you experience after the death of a parent can be normal feelings, but studies have also linked the death of a parent to a number of negative habits. Such as addiction or serious mental illness.

Establishing a healthy grieving process will help you to avoid addiction, serious mental illness, or any other negative impacts that could result in loss. It is more than possible to have a healthy grieving process.

To help you with your healthy grieving process we want to help you understand some of the important parts of dealing with the death of a parent. It is still important to remember that everyone handles grief differently and these tips may or may not all be relevant to you.

Keep up with your family

Family is an important part of dealing with the death of a parent. Your family is a great place to turn as they know you the most. They are also mourning too, and in that grief, you can find common support.

Get appropriate levels of sleep

It isn’t hard to spend nights awake or to spend too much time sleeping. Both extremes are common when you are going through grief. Maintaining healthy amounts of sleep is important as it will help the rest of you to remain healthy.

Exercise regularly

Even when you are not grieving, regular exercise can have a positive impact on your emotional state. Walking alone can be a good start but you the more exercise you get, the better the effect you will experience.

Get creative

Art and creativity in all forms can help you to deal with loss. Creativity gives you an outlet for your feelings and a way to express yourself. Others can see your feels and better help to understand what you are going through. Some of the most common forms of creativity for expression are: writing, painting, drawing, and crafting.

Let yourself feel the loss

It is important that you not let the loss of your parent be kept inside. You need to let yourself feel the loss. Don’t try to hold it in. Crying, feeling sad, and more are all normal and okay.

Turn to your religion or spirituality

A large portion of the population follows a religion or spirituality. With that comes a group and usually a local leader. Try turning to your practice to find answers and guidance. Most have scripture of some sort to help you learn about loss. You can also turn to your local leader to get help.

Look for a group

Grief groups and group therapy can be a big help. Especially when you find one that is specifically for those that have lost parents. You get to be around those who are also dealing with their loss. At the same time, you get to develop skills and tools needed to deal with loss.

Find a grief counselor

Professional help comes in the form of counselors or therapists. Grief counselors specifically are trained in helping those who are experiencing loss. Counselors help you learn about loss, your feelings, and most importantly, to develop healthy habits to cope with loss.

Everyone deals with loss differently. These steps though are some of the most common and best ways to deal with the death of a parent. Trying to keep to all of them will help you to deal with loss. Make sure to reach out when you need help.