Dealing with the loss of a loved one is always incredibly difficult. This difficulty only intensifies when you are in charge of protecting your family. Not only do you have to deal with your own grief, but you also have to manage the emotions of everyone around you. This is a taxing undertaking, but you will get through it! The most important thing is that you take it one step at a time. Below are four ways that you can guide your family through the loss of a loved one.
Come up with practical solutions
If everyone around you is acting out of emotion, you will need to be the one to come up with practical solutions. For instance, if your deceased loved one experienced an unattended death, you should reach out to a death cleanup service. You could also hire someone to sort through their possessions, settle their debts, and organize the funeral. This will take the pressure off your loved ones and will allow them to concentrate on their grief.
Understand the legal implications
When a loved one passes, it is likely that they will leave behind assets that need to be dealt with. If they organized a will, this process will be much easier to handle. However, regardless of the situation, you should still speak with a trusted legal advisor. They will be able to guide you and your family through the process. Make sure that you find a lawyer who is experienced in these matters, as they will be more likely to have the sympathy and tact that you require.
Talk with your loved ones
Another important step is to talk with your loved ones about how they are feeling. You need to create an environment in which everyone is happy to speak their mind. This could involve holding a family meeting and giving everyone the chance to talk. Alternatively, you could attend a family therapy session. This will make it easier for you to engage with the process, instead of managing everyone else’s feelings. Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be an intensely emotional experience. You can speak with the therapist beforehand about creating a positive atmosphere that is centered on the happy times spent with the departed and everyone’s hopes for the future.
Have something positive to look forward to
Going through a difficult time can help to bring people closer together. If you want to ensure this happens, you should consider arranging an activity that everyone can look forward to. When you are coping with the death of a loved one, this may feel like an unusual thing to do. However, focusing on the positives could help you and your family to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Why not work together to organize a family vacation? This will be the perfect opportunity for you to escape your day to day life and to spend time with each other. However, remember never to force someone to feel happy or short cut their grief – people heal at different rates.
