A parent losing a child is a dark kind of pain. It is such a traumatic experience that even linguists have yet to come up with a correct term for it.
Widows, widowers, orphans. These are names that define people who have lost their husbands, wives, or parents respectively. However, for parents who have endured the loss of a child, no word has been invented to describe their kind of loss. Losing a child leads to a pain that cuts deep, one barely thinks they can survive it.
Read also: Had a rough year? this is how to relax this holiday
However, with the right help, a parent can cope with the loss of their child in a healthier and more tolerable way.
- Do not bottle your emotions
At times, parents who have lost a child tend to hide their emotions. They think that suppressing them will make it easier to bare. However, the more you keep all that rage, sadness, and confusion within, the less likely you are to deal with it. As a parent, you need to know that is perfectly okay to cry and be sad during this hard time. After all, you are mourning your child.
Subscribe to Switch TV for more content
- Strive to keep your baby’s memory alive
It is probably one of the hardest things to do. Some prefer to get rid of anything that presents itself as a reminder of their departed child. However, it helps when you can remember them, especially in a positive way. Keep those items that give you a beautiful nostalgia for the good times you spent with your child. This helps to deal with the pain.
- Seek professional help
Grieving the loss of a child requires parents to take up professional help. Visit a counsellor or therapist to help you make sense of the myriad of emotions you have. The professionals will get you from a place of denial to that of acceptance, which is what we all aim for when dealing with loss.
Read also: CBC; Potential cure to the unemployment menace
- Give yourself time
Healing is not a destination, rather, it is a journey. As a parent coping with loss, you may get impatient, wanting the feeling of pain and despair to go away quickly. This however does not happen in a day. It takes months, years even to get yourself back on track. Regardless, trust that you will get there and give yourself the time and space you need to achieve peace.
Even though death is part of the natural life cycle, it doesn’t mean it is not painful. Healing though is what makes life worth living even after the death of loved ones.
