Grieving a spouse is disorienting and exhausting. Symptoms are not just emotional, but physical and mental too. In the midst of this pain, self-care can feel impossible or even self-indulgent. But taking care of yourself isn’t just important for your health; it is also necessary for healing.

Self-care is not meant to force you to “move on” or pretend that everything is fine. It consists of strategies and practices that can help you manage the difficult parts of grief – to bring moments of reprieve from the pain and allow you to keep moving forward in your life.

Losing your spouse changes everything. The life you once knew is suddenly taken from you. In the midst of grief even the things that once brought joy – your hobbies, creative outlets, and passions – can feel distant or unimportant.
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​When my husband, Brad, passed away, I found it difficult to reconnect with the hobbies and passions I once loved. I was exhausted, not eating well and barely sleeping. I simply did not have the mental or physical energy to engage in the things that once brought me joy.