What to do When Grief Consumes You

Everyone grieves differently, and just because your mother or daughter or cousin or 
neighbor seems to be grieving in a different way, or it seems like their pain isn’t quite as 
pronounced as yours, doesn’t mean you aren’t grieving in the right way. In fact, you 
might find that the grief can consume you, where you find it difficult just to get out of bed 
and go through the day. If this is happening, here are some ways you can get help.

Write in a Journal
During the grieving process, your thoughts and feelings go through quite the 
rollercoaster. If you are someone who doesn’t like talking to others about what you are 
going through, the next best thing is to write in a journal. You are able to keep this 
journal private, so that you don’t have the added worry of others judging you. Use the 
journal to write about anything you need to, whether you are trying to find something 
positive out of each day, journal your experience as you grieve, or vent about what 
angers and saddens you during this time.

Try Meditation and Mindfulness
Both meditation and mindfulness can be used alone or separate to help you through the 
grieving process. They are not meant to rush you or force you to move on from the loss, 
but help you understand what you are feeling, get to the point of acceptance, then learn 
how to live a positive, fulfilling life even with this massive loss. It can feel impossible 
right now, but the more you practice clearing your mind and understanding how to be 
more mindful in each moment, you will see that it is very therapeutic.

Find Someone to Talk to
Try to find at least one person you can talk to when it feels like your grief is consuming 
you. This can be anyone in your life you feel you can freely talk to without judgment. It 
might even be someone you least expected, like a neighbor or a co-worker, or a friend 
you haven’t been close to in a while. Reach out to someone you know and trust and let 
them know when you need to talk through your grief.

Look for Distracting Activities
Try to find activities that distract you at least momentarily. You are looking for activities 
that are not going to detract from your health (like heavy drinking), but instead will give 
you at least a few moments of peace. This might be painting or drawing, writing, 
reading, watching something that makes you laugh, or going for a walk. 



