Grieve well

Most of us are familiar with the five common stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression and, finally, acceptance—but everyone experiences the loss of a loved one in his or her own way. According to WebMD.com, there is no normal amount of time to grieve, but sadness does ease eventually. It’s important to:

• Give yourself time: Accept that grieving is a process; sometimes a long one.

• Talk about it: Don’t isolate yourself. Spend time with friends and family.

• Take care (of yourself): Don’t skip exercise or sleep. Eat well.

• Focus on hobbies: Return to the activities that bring you joy.

• Get support: Meet with other people who are grieving. Support groups are a good place to start.

If your pain doesn’t get better with time and you can’t move on, consider talking to your doctor or a licensed therapist.