Dear Reader,

Grief and loss are inevitable parts of aging that can impact all areas of your life, including your job and your relationships with friends and family. While there can be an overlap between grief and depression, grief isn’t depression. Sadness associated with grief typically decreases with time.

Everyone reacts to and copes differently with death. Grieving and embracing the time you spent with a loved one are important processes to help you face the most acute stages of grief. It may take months to a year to come to terms with such a loss, and there’s no deadline for when grief should end. But research supports the idea that most people can recover from the death of a loved one on their own with time if they have social support and practice healthy habits. Avoiding your feelings and isolating yourself disrupt the healing process.

While the loss of a spouse or close friend can trigger intense sadness, there are ways to enhance your resilience, which can help you cope during more difficult times.

Accept your feelings. Know that feelings of grief are normal and you might experience a wide range of emotions, including sadness, anger or exhaustion. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, talk to a grief therapist, who can help you cope with those feelings.

Take care of yourself. Grieving can take a physical toll. Focusing on eating healthy foods, exercising and getting plenty of sleep can support both your physical and emotional health.

Stay socially connected. This is one of the most important ways to avoid depression in general, but especially after experiencing the loss of a loved one. During difficult times, try to maintain social connections, whether this means getting together with close friends, joining a book club, having a poker night, or being part of a faith-based community.