While it is natural to experience all kinds of emotions in your caring season, it is important you are finding healthy ways to process them.
Take the quiz below to see how you are coping.
Respond True or False to the following statements to discover how well you are coping with grief and loss.
I don’t want to burden my friends and loved ones with my grief so I put on a smile and hide what I’m really feeling.
I feel as if I have to be strong for others, so I focus on taking care of them instead of myself.
In order to better handle my grief, I try to get enough sleep, eat well and avoid numbing my pain with alcohol or other substances and behaviors.
I cry often and am afraid I won’t ever be able to stop.
I have trouble falling asleep and, when I do, my sleep is restless and I wake up feeling tired.
I have a support group, coach or counselor, along with the support of my friends and family, to help me work through my intense emotions and overcome obstacles to my grieving.
I know that trying to avoid my pain will only prolong my grieving; therefore, I make time to really face all my feelings.
Journaling and other creative outlets help me explore and express what I’m feeling.
I don’t feel much interest in activities that I used to really enjoy.
I feel empty inside and am not sure anymore what point there is in going on.
Although my feelings are all over the place and sometimes I feel as if I am “going crazy,” I know that this is a normal response to loss.
I draw comfort from meditation, prayer and spending time in nature. These activities help me take a more spiritual view of my situation.
Although I am still deeply grieving, I worry that I should be over it by now, or that others think I should have moved on already.
How Are You Coping?
You still have a real smile!
The smile is forced!
There are no smiles to be found!
Disclaimer: this is an informal activity meant for leisure only, and not for formal guidance on being a caretaker.
