Mourning the Departure of a Mother: Strategies for Daughters to Move Forward
Losing a mother can be a profoundly emotional experience, and it's essential to understand the unique challenges that come with it. A study from 2015 suggests that women may experience a more intense grief response and have more difficulty adjusting to the loss of a parent compared to men.
One of the immediate effects of losing a mother can be the feeling of losing an important part of your support system. However, there are ways to cope during this difficult time. Keeping up with traditions from your mother or starting your own can help ease the burden of loss. Focusing on happy reminders such as pictures, books, or keepsakes can provide comfort.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) lists a variety of normal emotions in the year following parental loss, including regret, remorse, anxiety, guilt, emptiness, rage, anger, sadness, and numbness. It's important to remember that these feelings are common and are a part of the grieving process.
If the grief becomes unbearable, resources such as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, and Befrienders Worldwide are available for immediate help. Local support groups, online chat forums, and mental health professionals can also provide assistance during the grieving process.
The American Psychological Association's Psychologist Locator can help find a professional specialized in grief recovery. Books such as "Healing After the Loss of Your Mother: A Grief & Comfort Manual," "Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss," and "How to Survive the Loss of a Parent: A Guide for Adults" may offer support during the grieving process.
Mindfulness, the ability to focus on the moment and not follow thoughts down an emotional path, can help manage painful memories related to the loss of a mother. Offering support to others who have experienced parental loss can provide a sense of purpose during the grieving process.
Losing your mother can also mean feeling the loss of cultural and tradition, and a lack of maternal guidance. Finding another source of support can help retain feelings of guidance and understanding. Honoring a mother's memory can take various forms, such as donating to her favourite charity or setting personal goals.
Grief that impairs your daily functioning or persists for longer than a year may require the support of a mental health professional. Parental loss is linked with depression and a compromised sense of self in young adults, as found in a 2021 study. Women who experience the loss of a mother are more likely than men to binge drink, have a greater decline in self-esteem, and have a lower level of personal mastery (personal growth).
It's important to remember that everyone's grieving process is unique, and it's essential to take the time needed to heal. Resources are available to help navigate this difficult time, and it's okay to seek support when needed.
Read also:
- Understanding Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis: Key Facts
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
