3 Tips for Coping With Grief During the Summer

Right now is when Tennessee has much to offer and nature is at its peak. We all feel the need to be outdoors. Being with family, taking traditional road trips, hiking and fishing are fun times associated with this time of year. However, if you are grieving it may feel like you have been left out of the fun times associated with the sunshine. Here are three suggestions to help you this summer. Try the things you liked to do with your loved one in nature. Take a walk, go fishing or visit a favorite park of theirs - in their memory. This allows you to find new meaning in summer activities you may have done with them. If a child is grieving, they may feel a sense of guilt for having fun or enjoying their less structured days. Remind them it's OK and involve them in making a favorite meal for their loved one or to start a journal and fill it when they are outside enjoying a peaceful place in nature. Be adventurous and try an entirely new park, road trip or author. Breaking out of routine may give you the feeling of enjoying something new, but not have memories to trigger a sense of guilt about finding pleasure in a new way. Remember, it's OK to feel blue even when the sun is shining. Time will help, but we hope these new approaches will assist you. Contact us to learn more about our grief support programs at (615) 452-1943.