Dealing with loss can be quite complicated. When someone you care about deeply has died, you may experience a plethora of intense and sometimes confusing emotional responses. For countless individuals, this means dealing with a spike in feelings of anxiety. If you’re someone who is prone to stress, you may be looking for ways to overcome your nerves. Take a moment to review these suggestions and find the best way to cope during this particularly difficult time in your life. 

Talk About Your Feelings

Right away, it is important to mention that you should not be keeping any of your emotions to yourself during this time. While it is never healthy to keep your thoughts and feelings shoved down within, this is a particularly sensitive time. Reach out to people you trust, whether they be individuals who knew the deceased or simply friends who care about you, and talk about what you’re experiencing. Not only can it be cathartic to say these words out loud, you will find it helps you process some of the more complicated emotions you’re feeling.

While talking with anyone can help, you may find it a bit more useful to share stories with those who knew the departed. There is something about this simple act that somehow brings the dead back to life by reminiscing on the past. 

Focus on Your Breathing

When you search the internet for ways to manage anxiety, you likely are going to see a lot of advice centered on breathing. While it might seem cliche, it is ubiquitous across mental health blogs for a reason. When you’re on the verge of a panic attack, paying attention to your breath can actually help you avoid pushing fully into the collapse. However, getting too worried about your breathing can actually exacerbate your feelings of anxiety. This means you need to breathe in a very specific way to see results.

Experts say to slowly take air in through your nose, hold it for a moment, then exhale at the same pace through your mouth. This circular breathing technique has a way of regulating the central nervous system. 

Be Physical

After experiencing a loss, you might lose interest in all of your passions and hobbies. If you’re someone who likes to exercise, this means you may skip going to the gym or engaging with your regular workout regimen. While this is natural, it is important to stay as physical as possible while mourning. According to experts, physical activity is incredibly important when it comes to mental health. 

Though going to the gym might be too much to take on, it can be useful to at least do something simple like go for a walk, do a few crunches, or find a practical way to get your heart rate up. Physical exercise is not a cure for anxiety, but it is a fantastic way to regulate your central nervous system during a particularly stressful time like after the death of a loved one.  

Get Professional Help

While little steps like breathing and exercising might help in small ways, there will come times when you require professional assistance for managing your anxiety. Mental health is as important as physical health and ignoring major issues can lead to much more complex issues down the road. Reach out to a therapist, counselor, or social worker and set up an appointment for talk therapy. Not only can this be helpful when it comes to getting through the pain of the loss, it can also provide a slew of new techniques you can use for handling your anxiety. 

Find the Right Path

Losing a loved one can be an incredibly stressful experience. By looking for ways to manage your stress during these difficult periods, you are providing yourself with the tools you’ll need to get through the loss.