How Healthy Lifestyle Changes Can Help You Cope During Times of Grief

 

Claire Wentz created Caring From Afar to offer support and advice to people who are unable to live near their loved ones. She chooses the most poignant topics and, for this reason, is my guest blogger for today.

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One of the most common side effects of a death in the family–or even severe changes to the well-being of a loved one or yourself–is intense feelings of sadness and grief. It’s normal to feel this way, but there are ways to cope with these feelings that can help you feel better and get back on your feet. If you’re looking to understand more about how a healthy lifestyle can help you heal as you grieve, the following article from The Tales of a Stroke Patient can help.

Yoga and Grief

Yoga offers so many benefits that directly tie into overcoming grief. This may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of yoga, but it is a way to find relief. If you are grieving, Australian Natural Health notes that yoga will help you feel better by releasing endorphins and serotonin in your body. 

These will make you feel more relaxed and less stressed. Yoga also has breathing techniques that can help clear your mind and relieve any pent-up emotions. Yoga movements and poses are often done on the ground, which makes it easier for those who have never tried this form of exercise. 

Moreover, yoga helps with grief because it allows people to focus on themselves, meditate, and let go of their thoughts without feeling pressured. It’s all about finding comfort and peace in an otherwise difficult time. You are sure to appreciate the positive effects of yoga in your life.

Seek Professional Counseling

It is common for grief to extend for a significant period of time, but grief that becomes debilitating may need to be addressed through counseling. Fortunately, therapy is more accessible now than ever with the advent of telehealth counseling. When exploring the cost of therapy, look for telehealth opportunities that take your insurance, but know that even if you’re uninsured, you can find ongoing weekly appointments available for as low as $149 per session, with single sessions available for only $169. Online therapy is highly convenient, offers significant time savings, and if the need for medication arises, you can be referred to a board-certified physician for a prescription. 

Brighten Your Living Space

Did you know that a dark house can only make your sadness worse? You can boost your mood by inviting more light into your home. Take it a step further by turning on the lights at night to brighten your surroundings.

This will improve your mood and lift your spirits. A bright, cheerful environment does wonders for the soul, so be sure to take advantage of light’s many benefits during times of grief and sadness.

Start Your Own Business

Many people find that owning a business brings them joy and helps them overcome their depression. As a business owner, you are in control and don’t have to worry about dealing with someone telling you what to do.

Owning a business such as an LLC gives you greater flexibility and reduces your paperwork responsibilities. Please be aware that each state has its own laws about LLCs, so you will need to research your state’s laws in order to ensure compliance.

Eat Healthy Foods

As Harvard Medical School points out, a healthy diet is a key to feeling better—both physically and mentally. Take steps to ensure that you are getting your daily recommended intake of nutrients. You will benefit from higher energy levels, sharper cognitive function, and an improved mood. Furthermore, you should seriously consider cutting out sugar and other unhealthy additives that only serve to make you feel worse in the long run.

Losing a loved one–or even the sharp decline of a loved one, possibly even yourself–is always difficult, and everyone has their own ways of working through the grieving process. These revitalizing healthy lifestyle changes can help you get back on your feet.

Stroke and Positivity: Are They a Toxic Duo or Optimistic Horizon?

 

I'm stubborn, but there comes a point where I will say, explain your side of the equation. Then I listen closely to perhaps form a new opinion, different from the first, on the subject at hand.

I wrote a blog post in Facebook recently that said a stroke gives you nothing positive. And I meant from the physical side in having one. But too late for post-written clarifications. That post received one on most vitriolic reactions since I started the blog 12 years ago. 

So, of course, positivity and stroke bothered me. When brain injury occurs, for many survivors, they consider it a hiccup to life's plans. I'll get better, they tell themselves, and as the months go on, the confidence wanes because they are not getting better at the speed they want. With only one hand on the non-affected side and one affected leg throbbing and tingling and constantly going into random spasms, they are subject to give up hope. 

Nahal Mavadatt et al wrote in a scholarly study or post-stroke and positivity. "Post-stroke psychological problems predict poor recovery, while positive affect enables patients to focus on rehabilitation and may improve functional outcomes. Positive Mental Training (PosMT), a guided self-help audio shows promise as a tool in promoting positivity, optimism, and resilience." 

The researchers believe that PosMT works, but depression among stroke survivors often negates that option, having stroke dictate the course of things rather than looking forward to an optimistic future by the people themselves. Attitude comes all the way down the pole. Look up "Positive Mental Training for strokes." You'll see a long list of possibilities to buy. Do they work? 

Having heard over 350 stories in my Brain Exchange organization, co-founded by Sara Riggs, I am convinced, just like snowflakes, no two stories are the same and the old adage rings true: every stroke is different.

Robert Perna and Lindsey Harik, in another study, said, "Psychological disturbances may affect rehabilitation outcomes through a reduction in adherence to home exercise programs, reduced energy level, increased fatigue, reduced frustration tolerance, and potentially less motivation and hope about the future."

Of course, that's true. With up to 75% of stroke survivors having some physical impairment that affects each of those points, young to old, how can it not! 

So what, if any, are the positive effects of having a stroke? Yes, there are some. Stroke survivors say:

• more tolerance for disabled people
• increased empathy
• additional patience
• added compassion
• interest in other kinds of disability

I notice it in myself, and I see it in those around me. So do you have to have a stroke in order to satisfy that list? I imagine you do, or be working in some kind of religious or healthcare occupation where those factors SHOULD BE a given. Please read The Tales of a Stroke Patient. In healthcare, trust me--they aren't always.