When you married your husband or wife, you were looking forward to a lifetime of love and happiness together. Therefore, when one individual passes away first, the surviving spouse will be left with a true challenge. If you’re trying to prepare for the grieving process after the funeral service, take advantage of these healing tips.

Ways to Grieve for a Spouse

1. Ask for Help

For many spouses, it can be hard to talk to someone else about the death of their closest loved one. However, even if no one can relate to your exact experience, it will help you to talk through your emotions with others. Reach out to your children, siblings, or friends of your late spouse—they’ll likely be happy to listen to you talk about your husband or wife, and share their own memories.

If you feel like you have no one to talk to, you can always turn to a support group for grieving spouses. Speaking to others about your experience will remind you that you’re not alone, and that there will come a day when you’ll feel better.

2. Allow Yourself Time Alone

After the loss of a spouse, your friends and family members might want to set you up with a new significant other eventually. While their intentions are caring—to find you a new companion—it’s important to take some time to process your grief.

Recognize that it won’t be possible to replace your spouse with a new individual, and that in addition to mourning their loss, you’ll need time to re-center and ground yourself. Until you’re ready, you can use your free time to get to know yourself in this new chapter of life. Taking up a new hobby, such as yoga or gardening, reading a new book, or adopting a pet will help you regain a sense of “normalcy.”

3. Take Breaks From the House

When you first receive the news of your spouse’s death, you’ll need some time to work through your feelings while inside the comfort and privacy of your home. However, as soon as you are able, try to get a change of scenery—away from the sentimental space that reminds you of your loss.

Whether you go to the park, a friend’s house, or a town you’ve never seen before, it’s important to get some distance from the living space. Changing your external environment will allow you to reframe your thoughts and start thinking positively about your future. 

If you’ve recently lost a husband or wife, Herman-Taylor Funeral Home of Wisconsin Rapids, WI, is here to help. Their award-winning funeral service directors are also certified crematory operators, so you can take care of your spouse’s wishes with one team. They’ve been serving local families since 1953, so you can trust their time-tested skills and let them handle the details. To learn more about their funeral services, visit the website, or call (715) 423-5460.