Walking Through Mental Graveyards

The importance of taking time to grieve.

Grief is a funny thing. When you lose someone close to you, grief becomes a lifelong companion. Not every day is as tough as those first few, but grief shows up where and when it wants to.

Painful as it can be, taking time to feel your grief helps you remain positive the rest of the time.

Grieving is also an important part of managing bipolar disorder. It can be a trigger for both depression and mania. But if you can learn to grieve in a healthy way, it can help you stay balanced.

“Grief is never something you get over. You don’t wake up one morning and say, ‘I’ve conquered that; now I’m moving on.’ It’s something that walks beside you every day. And if you can learn how to manage it and honour the person that you miss, you can take something that is incredibly sad and have some form of positivity.” — Terri Irwin

Finding Your Way Through Grief

There’s no one right way to grieve. Some need to talk about their grief in extended detail. Others keep their feelings to themselves and grieve in solitude.

Some people find comfort in their faith, while others find solace in nature. There is no wrong way to grieve, as long as it works for you.

If you’re struggling to deal with your grief, here are a few things that might help:

• Talk to someone who understands what you’re going through. This could be a friend, family member, therapist, or support group.
• Write about your feelings in a journal.
• Spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself.
• Do something to honor the person you lost. This could be something as simple as planting a tree in their memory or writing a letter to them.
• Most importantly, be patient with yourself. Grief is a process, and it takes time to heal. There’s no time limit, so don’t rush yourself. The hardest grief takes years to process.

Taking the Time You Need

Taking time to grieve is a crucial part of managing bipolar disorder. It can help you stay balanced and find positivity in the midst of pain.

If you’re struggling, reach out for help. There are people who understand and can offer support. Remember, you’re not alone.

Terri Irwin’s quote is so true, “Grief is never something you get over. You don’t wake up one morning and say, ‘I’ve conquered that; now I’m moving on.’ It’s something that walks beside you every day.”

If you’re grieving, know that it’s okay to take as much time as you need. Lean on your support system and be patient with yourself. You’ll get through this.

If you or someone you know is struggling with grief, there are resources available. Here are two examples:

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has a grief and loss support group.

The Grief Recovery Institute offers online and in-person grief support groups.

When grief comes calling, take some time to let it in. Let yourself feel your emotions and cry those tears. The only way past pain is to go through it, so dive in and mourn. You’ll be you again soon, so don’t give up. Better days will return. You just have to hold on.

Grief Writing

Take some time to explore your past and present grief with these writing prompts.

Journal Prompt: If there’s someone or something you need to grieve for, take some time to write about it. Explore your feelings and where you are in your grief journey. If not, write about how you can help someone you know who is still going through the grieving process.

Creative Writing Prompt: After a decade, your character realizes they never let themselves grieve a significant loss. Today is the day they choose to move forward. Write a story about their journey.

Until next time, keep fighting.

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