Maybe you've heard about "the grieving process." But really, there are as many ways to grieve as there are people.
While how you grieve may differ from others, there are some common themes, sadness, anger, feeling numb, the fact that it takes time to move through these feelings, and that we often don't just push through a feeling, and then we're done with it.
One way of understanding how we grieve outlines five stages that we go through: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. (This is the Kubler-Ross model of grief.) It's important to realize that we move back and forth through these stages--it's not a straight line.
Ultimately, as we move through them, our minds are working to make sense or meaning out of our loss and the suffering that comes with it. Hopefully, the meaning we make of our loss allows us to continue to live and love the memories of those we lose.
Most of us don't want to feel sad, angry, or the pain of losing someone. Using schoolwork or job obligations can be easy to avoid those uncomfortable feelings. What we know, though, is that those feelings won't just go away. They'll come back. So, while maintaining academics and our jobs and other daily functioning is vital, setting aside some time to grieve is essential.
Be gentle with yourself. Grieving takes a toll on a person—emotionally and physically. Try scheduling it if it's hard to find the motivation to maintain regular eating, sleeping, and basic exercise. Whatever self-care activities suit you, make the time for them.
Honor the memory of your loved one. Make room for the stories that come to mind. Some people find it helpful to journal, write poetry, or do an art project. You could even volunteer for an organization that reminds you of something they cared about.
Losing someone we love can cause us to ask big, unanswerable questions. Talking with a counselor or spiritual advisor can be helpful, or seeking out the support of your spiritual community.
It can be tempting to withdraw when we're grieving. We might tell ourselves that we're a bummer or in no mood to hang out with friends. And sure, we might need a different kind of connection than before our loss. Still, finding the type of connection we need is crucial—to share and process our feelings of loss with people we trust, people who care about us.