Why You Should Seek Grief Support Before A Loved One's Death
A lot of people reach out to a grief counselor after the death of a loved one. This professional can help you during this challenging time, but it's important to realize that you don't have to wait until someone dies to get the help that you need. When you have a terminally ill loved one, it's never too early to start speaking to a grief counselor. You might wish to do so shortly after your family member's terminal diagnosis, and then continue having occasional sessions before and after they pass away.
Here are some reasons to seek grief support even before a loved one's death.
Your Grief Has Already Begun
You might view grief as something that occurs when someone dies, but the reality is that this feeling can develop well in advance of a loved one's death. There's little doubt that you'll shift into a period of grief once you learn of a loved one's terminal diagnosis. This can especially be true if the news has come as a shock. If the person lives for a year after the diagnosis, you don't want to spend the entire year in a state of deep grief before you reach out for help. Getting help early in your grieving process is a good way to care for yourself.
You May Be Able To Improve Your Relationship
One of the challenges that people face when a loved one is terminally ill is the realization that they're running out of time to mend rifts that may exist in the relationship between them and the ill person. This feeling can create a deep sense of grief. When you start to work with a grief counselor well in advance of someone's passing, you may get some insights that you can use to improve your relationship with your loved one. Their final months can be a lot more pleasant for you and them if you're able to work through some issues. Without speaking to a counselor, this might not be possible.
Your May Have Minimal Free Time Afterward
As much as you may want to sit and grieve and also receive support after your loved one's death, you may not have a lot of time for this process. Often, family members must perform all sorts of time-consuming duties after someone's death. You might need to manage the estate, get the person's house ready to sell, and more. Filling your hours with this work can sometimes cause you to neglect your grief to some degree. If you've already sought out grief support, however, you'll already be getting the help you need — even if you don't have time for regular counseling sessions after the person's death.