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When You're Older and Coping With Loss The death of close friends and family members becomes increasingly common as you get older. However, the end of a loved one’s life doesn’t have to disable yours. Oftentimes, therapy can be of tremendous help in coping with loss and the feelings it can bring, such as pervasive sadness, isolation, hopelessness, or worthlessness. Too often, a person’s attitude is one of the biggest obstacles to getting help. Many people believe that they’re too old to get help or that looking to therapy is a sign of weakness or moral failing. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Therapy is a treatment process that offers specialized techniques of caring that have been designed to provide support, insight, and guidance. You’re never too old to benefit from the life-strengthening benefits of therapy. Your therapist can provide help and support your efforts in some of the following important areas: Expressing Your Grief Expressing your sadness is the first step in accepting a loss. Therapy offers a confidential, comforting setting in which to express your feelings and the therapeutic relationship permits you to safely explore even your most deeply felt sources of loss. Staying Connected It’s important to spend as much time as you can with friends and family and to continue going to places where people know you, like your place of worship or a social group in which you regularly participate. Your therapist can help guide and encourage your efforts to stay connected. Pursuing Your Interests Finding ways to continue enjoying life is not disrespectful to the memory of your loved one. If you find it’s too difficult to enjoy an interest the two of you once shared, you and your therapist can together explore ideas for new activities you can make your own. Throughout your lifetime, you have most likely been the person whom others have looked to for help in times of trouble. Know that it’s okay for you to be at the receiving end of care and attention. You can turn to 4therapy’s Therapist Locator for help in identifying a therapist in your area to help you as you cope with loss
This article was posted on March 29, 2006
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