TeenHelp - Someone passes away.

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- - Someone passes away. (http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f19-death-grieving-coping-loss/t164037-someone-passes-away/)

Someone passes away.

How do you cope when someone you know passes away? Person, friend, pet, ect.

I shutdown for a while and I don't talk to others. Then I will draw, dance, play with my five animals, listen to music, bake sweets for others and sometimes make a scrapbook.

Re: Someone passes away.

I guess it depends on who passed away and why. I've had a few uncles pass recently but they'd been sick for a while so it was easier for me to just go about my day, I still went to their funerals though. For things like pets or close family, I have to let myself cry and I'll talk to someone about it.

Re: Someone passes away.

I know this is not the best coping mechanism but I tend to shut down completely and not really talk about how I feel.

Re: Someone passes away.

My coping mechanisms depend on who passed away and how close I was to them. I do tend to shut down a little bit when I experience a major loss, but I try to pull myself out of that as quickly as possible by thinking about how the person who passed away would want me to feel. Would they want me to be sad or would they want me to continue to live life to the fullest? That being said, I will give myself the space to express my feelings when needed. If my feelings about their passing are very strong, I may also journal about my feelings to provide an outlet for them.

I also try to do something that honors that person and/or my connection to them in some way. For instance, I might light a candle on their behalf or go to a location that was important to them to participate in an activity that they enjoyed doing. If they were someone I spent a lot of time with, I may also revisit a place that holds a special memory that I have with that person. It helps me remember the connection that we had and feel a little bit closer to them, even after they're gone.

Re: Someone passes away.

Thank you all so much for your help with this. :hug:

Re: Someone passes away.

I talk about the person/pet.
I look at pictures.
Sometimes I talk to them or write them letters.
I let myself be upset and cry.

Re: Someone passes away.

I am pretty quiet about it and just silently cry and think about memories. I am not one to break down in front of others and bawl or cry.