coping - Dad of Divas

When you have to deal with a loss of a loved one as a family, it is difficult for everyone involved. As a parent, it can be extremely tough to navigate for your children and you will probably feel worried about how to get it right and do it properly. This is a valid response because grief is never easy, especially when there are young people involved as well. This guide has some tips for managing the loss of a loved one as a family if you are from Sarasota.

Be an Open Book

It often feels counterintuitive as an adult to be a completely open book with our children. However, some circumstances, for example, those with high emotional stakes, dictate that honesty above all else is the best policy. Let your children know that you will answer all their questions, and talk and explore as much as they need to. Give them the language of grief and loss to work with and don’t dismiss their emotional response because this can lead to a range of traumatic behavioral issues down the line.

Find Age-Appropriate Language

Alongside this, it is really important to find age appropriate language. Losing someone is bound to evoke some powerful feelings that they won’t have the emotional skills to explain. However, you can teach them the tools with a little research and insight tailored toward their age group.

Talk About the Funeral

The funeral will be a big part of navigating any major loss in the family. You’ll need to look at Sarasota funeral homes that offer Cremation Sarasota FL, or perhaps your loved one specified a burial. Either way, there is every possibility that this is the first time that your children have had this experience at all. This will likely be their first funeral. Talk them through what will happen on the day, so they know what to expect.

Trust Your Instincts

With any type of parenting, you just have to roll with your instincts and lean on what feels intuitive. They will tread where you tread and follow what you show them. So you have to feel confident in your approach, and there is nothing wrong with taking advice, conducting research, and finding your own set of support as well. Parents have to look after themselves so that they can look after their children as well.

Explore Ways to Celebrate the Life

Children often benefit from becoming involved in the planning stages. It does not have to be anything major, just a small gesture will be perfect. This can help them find a little closure and make them feel a part of the day, valid, and seen. These are all vital parts of the grieving process and lead to a bigger, deeper understanding.

Navigating grief at any age has its challenges. These feelings might be completely new or all too familiar, but it does not detract from the experience. As a part, it is highly important to stay open and stay involved.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could filter out all the negativity in our daughters’ lives? If we could act like a sieve that captures all the bad stuff and lets all the good flow through. If only that could be reality…

Unfortunately, we can’t shield our children from negativity, and that means they’ll have to deal with their share of stress. It’s inevitable. What we can do is teach them how to cope with stress in a healthy way.

The importance of dealing with stress

If you’ve ever had a panic attack or known someone who has, you know how stress can cause an extreme reaction in the body. When it builds up over time, stress can cause even more symptoms including:

Headaches
Muscle aches and pains
Gastrointestinal issues
Heart palpitations
Nausea
Difficulty concentrating

And there’s another drawback to stress that doesn’t get as much attention as it should. When you’re dealing with all the symptoms of stress, you’re not equipped to make the best decisions.

When teenagers have trouble dealing with stress, they may self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. These substances seem to provide temporary relief, but they will inevitably make her problems worse in the long run. Not only will she end up without proper coping mechanisms, but she may leave her teenage years with a substance abuse problem.

Even though stress is a common nuisance that affects everyone, it can truly ruin a person’s life if they don’t have the proper coping mechanisms.

How to teach your daughter healthy coping mechanisms

Start talking to your daughter about stress at a young age. We may not realize it as adults, but stress affects people of all ages. Babies may feel a sense of stress when they’re separated from their parents. Toddlers feel stress when they can’t communicate their needs. It’s really never too early to start talking about how to cope with these feelings.

Of course, your conversations should remain age appropriate. When your daughter is very young, talk about taking a few deep breaths when she feels angry or frustrated. As she gets older, this is something you build upon to create stronger coping mechanisms.

Breathing exercises are effective for a few reasons. First, you’re taking the focus away from the problem when you concentrate on your breaths. Next, Slow and intentional breathing has a calming effect on the body. Regardless of whether you’re stressed at the moment, you can slow down your heart rate with breathing exercises.

How to invoke the relaxation response

The relaxation response is a technique that was developed in the 70s by cardiologist Dr. Herbert Benson at Harvard Medical School. There are six ways to invoke the relaxation response:

Focus on your breath

Take a series of long, deep breaths and focus on the air flowing in and out of your body.

Scan your body

As you focus on your breaths, focus on relieving tension from one area of your body at a time. Continue until you have relaxed the entire body. This technique helps with the mind-body connection.

Use guided imagery

Go to your happy place in your mind. Think of soothing places or experiences to help relax your mind and body.

Practice mindfulness meditation

Mindfulness meditation combines breathing exercises with a sense of awareness. To practice, sit in a quiet space and focus on your breaths without controlling them. Attempt to clear your mind by letting thoughts drift from your mind. Instead of trying to will them away, avoid following any wandering thoughts.

Practice yoga, tai chi and qigong

These techniques combine movement, breathing and mindfulness. To start your practice, find a yoga studio or look for a video-based program you can do from home.

Repeat prayers

This can be religious, but it doesn’t have to be. Choose a short verse that is meaningful to you and repeat it while focusing on your breaths.

While we can’t shield our children from experiencing life, we can give them to the tools they’ll need to handle anything that comes their way.

Tips For Managing The Loss of a Loved One For Sarasota Families