Stress from death of a close family member

• Remember those good times - Take some time to sit down with others that were close to this family member and share stories that will remind you of them. This helps to create happy memories in your mind of this person as well as enlightens you of other memories that you can now share with someone else. In terms of stress management, knowing that someone else is feeling the loss too can help ease your own feeling of isolation in your grief.

• Create a place where you can ‘meet' with this person - Some people like to go to cemeteries to sit by a gravestone and talk with their lost loved one, while others like to place a picture in their home where they can sit with their family member again. By taking the time to sit with this person as you remember them, you can talk (out loud or to yourself) and interact with them. This will help you tie up any loose ends that might be lingering.

• Forgive and forget - Sometimes we can feel guilty about someone dying because we've been mean to them or because they've been mean to us and we were mad at them for it. This can cause more stress than the death itself. In relaxation training, some practitioners will suggest writing a letter to the deceased, apologizing or forgiving them for transgressions. Once the letter has been written, it can be left at the gravesite or burned into ashes that can be scattered away.

• Get involved in the funeral process - Sometimes taking control of a situation is a good stress management technique. Much of stress in life is due to feeling out of control, so taking the time to help plan and orchestrate the funeral arrangements can give you back that sense of control. Write a eulogy, create a picture collage, play a song, etc. Not only are you getting to give back to this person in death, but you're also going to be able to express your love for them.

The death of a close family member is an inevitable fact of life, but that doesn't make it any easier. If you're finding that you can not overcome the stress on your own, you might want to head to a relaxation training specialist to help you regain your calmness and your life.

If you aren't yet ready to contact us, please read our publications, familiarize yourself with our services, and get to know more about us .

Relaxation Training specialists, The 4th R, 020-8974-8974