Loss is a natural part of life. Things change, people and pets pass away—this has been true since the beginning of time.

But the message we get from our culture these days is that we need to “move on,” getting over these losses and getting back to “normal,” even when normal is no longer possible. All loss requires a period of adjustment and time to grieve. When we push ourselves to move forward without going through the process, we put ourselves in danger of experiencing our neglected grief in our bodies. Weeks or months later, we may experience headaches, dizzy spells, or stomach aches—sometimes without knowing why.

When you have experienced a loss—whether it’s the loss of a career through retirement, the loss of mobility or other aspect of good health, or the loss of a loved one—be extra careful to listen to your body and give it what it needs. Eat nutritious, satisfying food, get lots of rest, get out into nature and breathe fresh air. And understand that you may feel preoccupied or out of your body.

If you have experienced the loss of a loved one, it can be very helpful to talk to others going through a similar time. We recommend that you contact a hospice in your area to find out about grief support groups (for folks in the Triangle, we recommend you contact Hospice of Wake County at hospiceofwake.org).

We wish you a peaceful and healthy April!

Image by Kalexanderosn via Flickr