About 2.5 million people die in the United States annually, each leaving behind an average of 5 grievers. Especially during a pandemic, reasons to grieve abound, and many people have lost their loved ones to COVID.

After a painful loss, you may even have experienced grief so powerful and intense that it can seem to have no end.

I’m here to tell you that grief can have an end. Read on to find four tips to survive a loss of a loved one.

1. Ask for Bereavement Leave

No one can work at their full capacity following a loss. Please take care of yourself and ask for bereavement leave. If you are feeling intense, complex grief, you definitely need time to recover.

The cost of grief in the workplace goes underestimated.

If you can get support and schedule flexibility from your workplace, all the better. If you cannot, then you should negotiate what you can. Employers should address your mental health needs openly.

According to a study by the Grief Recovery Institute, employers stand to lose up to $100 billion annually from the costs of grief alone. Employees coping with a loss often make worse decisions, may turn to substances to cope, and run an increased risk of injury.

It is worth it to draft a professional message to your supervisors or managers explaining the situation. You can find out here how to write a bereavement leave letter.

If you are an employer or a manager, then give your employees the time to grieve.

2. Allow Yourself to Feel

Have you ever felt anxiety that you would lose your parents? Have you lost a parent already? It can be extremely painful, and debilitating, even.

In the stages of grief, one of the most important things is to allow yourself to feel emotions. You may scramble as hard as you can to pretend that everything is okay and put up a front for the people around you.

It’s okay not to be strong. You are feeling grief.

Therapists commonly advise people to allow themselves to feel. We live in a culture that undervalues feeling in the face of the pressure to be productive.

It is okay to feel.

3. Seek Professional Help

Most grieving people begin feeling better after a period of several months.

If you find that your feelings of grief have not faded, and you are unable to function in your everyday life, then you may have developed complicated grief. This may be you if your feelings of bereavement extend over many months or even years.

This form of grief should not be underestimated and puts you at risk for comorbid disorders like depression. If you have had thoughts like “I want to die because my mom died,” then you may be at risk for this form of grief.

If you have complex grief, then see a corresponding professional immediately. This could be a therapist, a psychiatrist, or even someone like this Wrongful Death Lawyer if your grief is associated with wrongful death.

4. Keep Active and Connected With Others

It goes without saying that exercise boosts your mental well-being as a whole. You do not need a full workout regimen. Often, going outside in the sunlight and taking a slow walk is enough.

The nature of grieving has changed with the rise of social media. Now, it is easier than ever to keep in touch with a community of people who are grieving just like you. You may have seen people writing posts in honor of their recently passed relative.

Posting on social media gives you the opportunity to connect with friends over your loss. It also gives you the opportunity to collect your thoughts and memorialize your loved one in a digital format.

You Are Not Alone After a Painful Loss

Remember that you are never alone. There are tons of resources dedicated to helping those coping with a painful loss. Be proactive in asking for bereavement leave from your employer, and inform others around you that you need time to grieve.

If you need more support, read more in our health section.