Managing Grief – Death of a Parent

The loss of a parent is one of the more common tragedies a college student might face, but that doesn’t make it any easier. Even though you might be a legal adult, you probably still have moments when you look to mom and dad for comfort and support. The child-parent relationship is often the strongest and longest-lasting relationship the typical college student has ever experienced. These tips might help you though the loss.

  • Your primary emotional reaction could be delayed or less intense than you might have expected. This doesn’t mean you didn’t love your parent or aren’t affected by their death. You will have a lot going on while in college, and it shouldn’t be surprising if it takes a while for the full brunt of the tragedy to hit.
  • Get plenty of rest, eat well, exercise and do anything else to stay in the best physical and emotional shape possible. When you’re grieving, it’s very easy to get sick and let your health decline.
  • Your grief may last a while. In fact, it may last a very long time or you may never fully recover from it. Understand that this can be normal and expected.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Losing a parent is traumatic and there’s no shame in needing assistance to cope with your tragedy.
  • Though you might logically understand that as your parent’s child, are expected to outlive your parents, it won’t make the death any easier to handle.

Source: Accredited Online Schools