Ways to Cope with Grief

1. Write - whether poetry or songs, letters to friends (to send or not), or a daily journal. I especially recommend journaling to those suffering from depression. (Obviously for me, writing is a way of staying sane and coping with life in general.)

2. Draw, Paint, Sketch, Doodle. 

3. Listen to music from meaningful artists. There is so much expressive music from classical to the blues to contemporary to country western, each with it's own flavor of "Sad Songs" and also inspirational, uplifting ones.

4. Play an instrument, or start playing one. Pull out the guitar, harmonica, clarinet, recorder and start to make music. If not then sing. Music is good for the soul.

5. Exercise - walking, running, tennis, hiking, water aerobics, swimming, horse back riding bicycling. As Nike puts it "Just Do It!"

6. Talk with others, share your feelings with friends.

7. Do something kind to someone. You will realize that you can make a difference.

8. Watch the stars, planets or moon at night. Take an astronomy course.

9. Rent a favorite movie--sad so you can cry, happy so you can laugh.

10. Pamper yourself -- bubble baths, wrap in a favorite afghan or quilt, drink hot chocolate.

11. Watch home movies or videos. Look at old photographs.

12. Spend time reading--books, articles, poems. Many good books are listed here, as well as coping poetry and stories.

13. Work in a garden, start a flower garden.  

14. Sew something, quilt something, create something.

15. Work on pottery or other crafts. Visit your local craft store..look for the courses offered. Check out the local Junior College...take the pottery course, or wood making course you always wanted.

16. Hug something a teddy bear, a pet, a friend. 

17. Participate in a ceremony--religious, sweat lodge, candlelight dinner with friends and family. Create your own ritual.

18. Watch the sun rise, the sun set. Look for shapes, figures, objects in the the clouds over-head.

19. Get a massage.

20. Dance, dance, dance.

21. Scream in the car, the shower, the woods, into the wind on top of a mountain.

22. Sing--in the car, in the shower, at home, at church, with friends. Join a Community Chorus.

23. Join a Computer support group. 

24. Enjoy a big red apple.

25. Take slow deep breaths, count to 10, concentrate on your breathing, the movement, let go of stress.

26.Find a safe, quite place to think, to remember, to process, to meditate to be alone with your thoughts and allow the healing to take place in the silence.