What Is The Best Way To Heal From Loss?

Healing from a loss begins with practicing gratitude and generosity at every opportunity. There have been several studies that show direct health benefits that are tied to generosity. Some benefits include finding a sense of purpose, feeling more in control, lower stress, and lower blood pressure. When it comes to practicing gratitude, Douglas Wood said, "The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time."

As a social worker, I helped people work through grief in many different settings. I worked in hospice for a while, but issues related to grief and loss were a common focus no matter where I worked. They were no less central for the people I saw at community mental health clinics, crisis response programs, or substance use treatment centers than they were for my hospice clients.