Wellbeing
Look after your wellbeing.
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Following a loss it is natural to feel like your whole life has been disrupted. This may mean that you experience disrupted sleep (sleeping too much or too little), eating unhealthily or for some people using substances like alcohol in an attempt to numb difficult feelings all of which are likely to make your mental health poorer.
With this in mind, it can be helpful to try to:
- Get enough sleep. Learn how to relax before bed, making sure your bedroom is a calm place and as clear of distractions as possible. If you
are having trouble sleeping, see our pages on coping with sleep problems.
- Eat well. Eating regular healthy meals can make a big difference to your overall sense of wellbeing.
- Avoid alcohol. Alcohol tends to make it difficult in the longer term for you to manage your feelings and find ways to help you to cope.
Coping With Sleep Problems
Grief and Sleep
The pain of loss can be emotional and physical and your heart and body can actually ache. This alone can cause problems with sleep. But, combined with the emotional reactions — like sadness, loneliness, and anxiety — those who are grieving can either experience sleepless nights or seek escape in sleeping more.
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“One of the biggest ways grief and sleep is connected is through dreams,”says Rebecca Ogle, a licensed Clinical Social Worker and therapist with Grounded Counseling in Chicago, Illinois. “Many grieving folks dream about their loved ones. If the dreams are upsetting this may cause them to dread sleeping and have trouble falling asleep.”
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Grief is a natural and normal response to loss that can lead to sleepless nights. Insomnia and Hypersomnia are common side effects of grieving. Just as the intensity of your pain becomes more manageable in time, so should your sleep. And as your sleep improves, so will your ability to handle your grief.
