The death of a child is a traumatic event for a parent, no matter how old the child may be or what the circumstances are surrounding the death. Whether you are dealing with the loss of an adult child or you have recently suffered a miscarriage, there are techniques you can use to progress through the grieving process. This guide provides some tips for mourning the loss of a child so you can get through this difficult situation.
Work With A Professional Grief Counselor
Grief counseling gives you a platform to share your emotions, thoughts, and feelings with a caring and unbiased person. You can join a support group or speak with a professional counselor in private sessions. At Perspectives Of Troy Counseling Centers in Michigan, we have several grief counselors who specialize in mourning the death of a child. Your counselor can help you understand feelings of anger, regret, sorrow, hopelessness, and everything else that comes with the stages of grief. Together, you will find ways to cope with your depression and move forward with the next chapter of your life.
Understand That There Is No “Normal” Way To Grieve
During the grieving process, you may have people tell you how to feel, how not to feel, when to feel, when not to feel, etc. There is no such thing as “normal” when it comes to grief. The relationship you had with your child and the way you feel because of the loss is completely independent of anyone else’s experiences. You may find comfort in hearing other people’s stories, but at the end of the day, you will grieve in the way that is best for your mind and body. If people are critical of that to the point that they are making you feel even worse than you already do, separate yourself from those individuals and focus on friends and family members who support you.
You Do Have A Purpose – You WILL Have A Future
Perhaps the hardest part of mourning the loss of a child is finding a new purpose in life. Many parents believe that raising their children is in fact their true purpose in life. You may not be able to fulfill that role anymore, but you can still have a future. Continue to live in a way that your child would have looked up to, or educate people about the circumstances that led to your child’s passing (addiction, drunk driving, etc.). Build a strong support system of people that make you feel wanted, needed, and loved. Your child’s memories will live on in your actions.
Our grief counselors in Michigan are here to help. Call (248) 244-8644 to speak with one of our caring staff members.