Losing a loved one is painful, but nothing compares to the loss of one’s partner. The thought of living alone can shatter an individual, no matter how long they have been in the relationship. The impact goes beyond loneliness, grief, and depression. A recent study found that men were 70% more likely to die after losing a spouse than other males of similar age with living partners. The likelihood was 27% more in women.
The journey to normalcy can feel overwhelming, whether you were a caregiver to a terminally ill partner or lost them in an unexpected event. Either way, processing grief can be challenging, leaving you feeling lost and unsure about navigating the path ahead. However, you should find a way to honor your deceased partner amidst the pain.
We will share a few ways to help you create lasting remembrances that cherish the love you shared with your partner during their lifetime.
Acknowledge Your Feelings
According to Verywell Mind, the grief one experiences after losing a loved one manifests in five stages. These are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. You can expect to find your way back only after reaching the final stage of acceptance. Allow yourself to pass through each stage and acknowledge your feelings, no matter how tough the process seems.
You may want to suppress emotions to show strength to your children, friends, and co-workers. However, trying this will only prolong the grieving process. Research shows that prolonged and intense grief can trigger medical concerns such as the acute onset of myocardial infarction. Give yourself the space and time to heal to address this risk.
Seek Support
Studies establish that bereaved people suffer from loneliness, which is associated with poor mental health. You may feel even more isolated when you lose the person with whom you share your life and family. Reaching out can keep you going during this difficult phase. Seek support from family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. You can join a support group of people going through the same journey.
Venting your feelings can be liberating, helping you process and address your feelings more effectively. If personal support does not offer respite, you may consider seeking professional help for grief counseling or bereavement therapy. These professionals offer guidance and actionable strategies to help people learn to live without their loved ones.
Honor Them With a Special Goodbye
No matter how painful saying the final goodbye sounds, you must ensure it is a special one for your partner. Research highlights that larger funerals reduce later regrets of the bereaved and increase psycho-social support for them. Moreover, rituals re-establish and stabilize the mental worlds of mourners after the loss.
You may opt for a traditional burial or choose cremation to bid the final farewell to your partner. Think of what they may have wanted before making the final decision. According to Legacy Urns, a custom urn can serve as a comforting and beautiful memorial item to preserve their ashes. You can get it embellished with an engraved message as a reminder of the joyful moments you had together.
Create Rituals of Remembrance
Funerals are a final goodbye to a loved one who has passed away, but they don’t have to be the end of your relationship. On important days like birthdays and anniversaries, you might create customs or rituals to honor them. Think of it as a means of preserving their memory in your heart and guaranteeing their continued presence in your life.
You can establish small routines like lighting a candle, going to a special location, or contributing to or helping out at a charity that your spouse was deeply involved with. Consider dedicating a day each year to celebrate their life. You can even create a dedicated space to preserve their memories, such as a room in your home or a digital scrapbook.
Practice Self-Compassion
Overcoming grief and creating happy memories of your deceased partner is also about investing in yourself. Self-compassion involves treating oneself with care during difficult times. Scientific evidence validates its efficacy in promoting adaptive coping and self-improvement. However, many people are not self-compassionate.
Recognize that healing takes time and make a commitment to treating yourself gently. Take care of your body, get enough sleep, and do things that make you happy and comfortable. Additionally, don’t feel bad about looking after yourself while you work to rebuild your life after losing your spouse because you deserve it the most.
After losing the person you love the most, grieving is frequently a difficult and protracted process. Nevertheless, the only thing that will sustain you is to hope for the future. At the same time, preserve the most precious memories of your partner in your heart and home with these tips. With time, you will learn to deal with the pain and find joy and meaning once again.