​If you have lost your spouse or life partner, you have probably experienced or are currently experiencing acute grief. Acute grief is defined as the immediate and intense reaction following the loss of a loved one. It is characterized by a range of emotional, cognitive, physical and behavioral responses that can be overwhelming and all-consuming. Acute grief typically lasts for the first few weeks to months after your loss and timelines can vary for everyone. Here is my experience with Acute Grief.

​In my grief coaching I focus on helping widowed women and men move forward from their grief to find joy and meaning in life. I’ve been in the depths of despair after my husband died. Yet, I clawed my way out to find happiness again and built a life without my late husband while still honoring him. I believe everyone has the right to be happy and I am passionate about supporting widows in determining what “moving forward” means to them and helping them design a life of happiness despite their loss. Here is what I’ve learned about acceptance and what moving forward after loss means to me.

​When my husband suddenly died, without warning, I was immediately tossed into a whole new world with no experience and a lot of unknowns. The intense sadness and loneliness that engulfed me was nearly too much to take. All I wanted was to figure out how to get better and back to feeling like myself again, albeit without my husband. It has been nearly two years since my husband left this earth and I know many newly widowed women wonder how long the pain will last. I will say that the pain, for me, has never really gone away, but it has gotten more dull and less sharp. The first 30, 60, 90 days after my husband passed were the most overwhelming and disorienting. Here is what I experienced.

​Grief is hard, emotional, confusing, and overwhelming. I’ve also learned it is uniquely personal. It is not a one size fits all and there is no right or wrong way to do it. What some find helpful or comforting during their grief may not help another and vice versa. The advice I’d give to my former self, in those first few weeks and months after my husband died, is to just do me. 

​Fatigue is an inevitable by-product of grief. Loss of appetite and lack of sleep can be contributors. But the sheer physical and emotional pain of grief is also exhausting. To successfully grieve, self-care and energy management are important. But how? Here are some tips: