Columns Making a Difference - a Column by Cathy Chester. How to Handle Grief and Why It’s Important for Your Health How to Handle Grief and Why It’s Important for Your Health by Cathy Chester | September 6, 2017 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link Grief can cut like a knife and pierce a hole in your heart that never fully heals. Iāve heard people say they prepare themselves after learning about a loved one’s terminal diagnosis, but how? How do you prepare to say a final goodbye? You can brace yourself as you provide comfort and love, but being fully prepared? Never. I know the theory behind the Circle of Life; every journey comes to an end, death begins the moment we are born, and no one escapes the inevitable. The Lion King taught us that weāre born of the earth and return to it. Yes, I get it. ButĀ howĀ do weĀ say a lastĀ goodbye? Itās heart-wrenching. Iāve been living with grief after the recent loss of my beloved father. I know you canāt get around grief; you have to face it head-on and walk right on through. Thatās what Iām trying to do, taking my first baby steps on that long journey, with a lot of support and introspection. Those of us living with MSĀ already know about grief Those of us with MS mourn the loss of a body without a disease, longingĀ for the ability to run, walk, think clearly and have the energy of a 15-year-old. We grieveĀ because we canāt pee and/or poop the way we used to. We long for the ability to speak clearly and be pain-free. We are saddened because we want society to understand that we live with an unpredictable and incurable disease. Those of us living with MSĀ want others to know that weāre important, valuable and matter. Like the grief we feel when losing a loved one we, the MS community also must take steps to walk through grief in order to heal. Caring for our physical and emotional well-being is critical when living with an autoimmune disease. Tread lightly and look inwardly, and reach out to others who possess a positive outlook on life. Read books about grief, loss, and healing. Take time for yourself. Meditate. Listen to calming music. Write thoughts in a journal. Spend time outdoors. Do yoga, tai chi or Reiki. Get a massage. Call a friend. Find a grief counselor. Join an MS support group. Do whatever it takes to help you through the tough times. The mind-body connection is a powerful thing. Your thoughts make a difference in your health. Thatās why itās so important not to ignore your feelings, but to find a way to tame them. If negative feelings are out of control and your emotions are overwhelming you, or if youāre having thoughts of suicide, seek professional help immediately from a qualified therapist, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255. There also is a free service called MSFriends that is sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Every volunteer lives with MS and each is trained to speak with callers about the subject of their choice. I worked for them for several months, and they are an incredible organization. Their phone number is (866) 673-7436. I hope to see you on the other side of grief. Remember not to judge yourself. Everyone handles grief differently, one baby step at a time. *** Note:Ā Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those ofĀ Multiple Sclerosis News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis. Print This Page About the Author Cathy Chester Cathy Chester is an award-winning health advocate and freelance writer whose flourishing blog, www.anempoweredspirit.com, focuses on staying positive despite a diagnosis of MS. Diagnosed with RRMS in 1986 (before any approved medications or the internet) Cathy knows how frightening this unpredictable disease can be. Today she helps others manage their MS journey by using her unique skills as a writer, patient, and certified health advocate. Her work has been featured in the National Multiple Sclerosis Societyās Momentum magazine, NARCOMS Now, MSAA, and in countless online publications including Midlife Boulevard, BetterAfter50, The Mighty, BlogHer, SheSpeaks, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop and The Huffington Post. Cathy lives in New Jersey with her loving husband and son, plus two adorable cats. Tags death, grief Comments Leave a comment Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published. Your Name Your Email Your Comment Post Comment
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