August 30 is National Grief Awareness Day
With a new school year comes new faces, experiences, and opportunities to pave the way forward, while healthily grieving the people and places we’ve left behind. Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something important. On August 30th, we turn our attention to National Grief Awareness Day. This holiday was created to encourage open communication on loss and grieving.
Unfortunately, the feeling of loss is something that everyone goes through, and it can often feel overwhelming; leading to unexpected emotions ranging from shock, anger, and disbelief to intense sadness. This can disrupt your sleep, eating, and thinking patterns. Therefore, it’s important to take care of yourself during this process.
Here are some ways to take care of yourself and grieve healthily:
Express, don’t Suppress
Simply ignoring doesn’t make those complex feelings go away. Face your feelings and express them in a tangible or creative way. Even if you can’t, or simply struggle to communicate about your loss with others, it can help to focus your energy into more constructive ways. Some examples may include building something from scratch, writing down your thoughts in a journal, or even cooking yourself your favorite food.
Stick to your Hobbies and Interests
Some may benefit from finding comfort in a routine that works well for them. This routine can be as simple as making your bed in the morning, going on a short walk during lunch, or drinking a glass of water. Participating in activities that you enjoy is a good way to fuel your energy tank with positive momentum for your day rather than drain you.
Keep in Touch
For many, going to college means saying goodbye to those you used to spend a great deal of time with. This can be a difficult adjustment, as relationships are bound to change with the distance and lower frequency of contact. While this can be difficult, it’s important to remember that change can be good. Find a way to communicate with your friends and family in a way that works well for both parties.
Quick Tip! : Use the BetterYou app to pick a day and time out of each week or month to reach out to a friend or family member who you enjoy speaking with.
Accept the Change and Seek Out Additional Tools
While one chapter of your book may close, another one will always open. Take time to reflect on your past experiences and think about what you can take away from them. Stick these bits of knowledge into your mental toolbox and move forward with the greater ability to thrive! ECU’s Center for Counseling & Student Development often offers the Grief Groups for students looking for supportive outlets in their grieving journey. When not offered, these groups are still available online.
This is a great step to take toward bettering your mental well-being.
During your time at ECU, everyone will have to learn how to best steer their ship. Luckily, calm seas never made a skilled sailor, and tough times happen to build greater people. Welcome back!