The death of a parent can leave you with a profound sense of loss that can feel impossible to recover from, regardless of what age you are or whether the death was expected or sudden.

Whether you had a close relationship with your parent or you were estranged, you will likely feel a mix of emotions, including sadness, regret, and fear.

If you are struggling to deal with the death of your mother or father and you are not sure how you will be able to move forward in your life, then the below steps should be able to help.

Step 1: Share your grief

As mentioned above, you are likely to be experiencing many different emotions which can be difficult to manage on your own. Therefore, it can be hugely beneficial to talk to someone about how you are feeling. This could be another family member, a friend, or even a grief counselor.

Don’t forget that there are many different stages of grief, including denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, acceptance, so it can take some time to fully heal.

Step 2: Remember them

Just because someone is no longer with you in the flesh doesn’t mean that you can’t still talk to them, share your worries with them, and simply sit and remember them.

Whether you choose to place their ashes in a commemorative urn from commemorativecremation.com so that you always feel like they are close by, or you prefer to create a memory book filled with happy memories, it is important to remember that gone doesn’t mean forgotten.

Step 3: Practice self-care

Grief can be all-consuming, and you may find yourself neglecting both your mind and body. If you have children who are grieving a grandparent, you may also be putting all your time and efforts into helping them to heal rather than focusing on your own grieving process.

It is natural to want to be there for your family, but you do need to also find time to look after yourself during this difficult time. This could be something as simple as having a relaxing bath or going for a long walk.

Step 4: Accept help       

Whether you need help arranging the funeral, getting in some food shopping, or you need some time off work, don’t be afraid to both ask and accept offers of help. It might surprise you how many people are willing to help you during this difficult time in your life.

While you may feel like an inconvenience, especially to friends who lead hectic lives, you need to accept that they want to help you and let them do so.

Step 5: Heal at your own pace

It is important to heal at your own pace and remember that there is no set time limit for grieving a parent or any loved one. Some people prefer to go back to work almost immediately to take their mind off their grief, while others may need weeks in bed to start their road to recovery.

However long you need to heal and start moving forward with your life, don’t let anyone force you to do something before you are ready.