When you visit a funeral home to pay your respects, it can really hit you — a key person in your life is now gone. This is a tough realization to have, and can render you full of grief. It's important to know that you don't have to go through the process alone. While family and friends can help, consider scheduling a session with a grief counselor in your community, through a place like Gillies Funeral Chapel. There, you can talk about the loss and learn some coping strategies to help you move forward. If you can't get a session scheduled right away, feel free to begin the healing process with these strategies.

Keep A Grief Journal

Until you're able to speak to a grief counselor, keeping a journal of some of your thoughts can be effective. You can write down a variety of things beyond simply what you're currently feeling. For example, share what you'll miss about the person, any regrets you may be experiencing and even some of your favorite memories of the time you shared together. Putting your thoughts into words can often help you have a better understanding of your grief, which can be useful when you finally sit down with the counselor.

Write An Email To The Person

It might initially seem a little strange, but sitting down to write an email (or a handwritten letter, if you prefer that approach) to the person who has passed away can be therapeutic. For example, you could be experiencing more grief if you feel that there were unresolved issues between the two of you. Writing to apologize for your role in the situation, in this case, can help to alleviate some of these feelings. Even something as simple as telling the person how much he or she meant to you can make this time easier, especially if you didn't have this conversation when the person was alive and you feel upset about it.

Don't Try To Distract Yourself

It can be tempting to distract your mind from the grief you're in by keeping busy with various jobs around the house, going to the movies or possibly even using alcohol. These aren't long-term solutions, however, and won't actually aid your ability to process the grief in a healthy manner. It's OK to sit with the grief; you have the right to feel upset and you don't have to "get over it" and get back to your normal life.