When first finding out time stops, followed by shock next to disbelief. There's no possible way it can be true that you’ve been visited by the angel of death and are experiencing the pain of loss. Where do you go from here?

Not too long ago I had the same thoughts racing through my mind. In the beginning there seemed to be no way possible of ever coming to peace with losing someone so close to me. With time that's exactly what happened, I found myself coming to terms and better understanding what happened.Everyone has their own way of grieving but these are a few ways that helped me to get through such a sudden loss.

It may sound crazy but I spent time alone. A lot of time alone, I didn't mind being isolated. I didn't want to talk about what happened or discuss my feelings. I didn't really know what to think or how I was feeling. Honestly I was more confused than anything. There were so many questions that no one had to the answer to. I found peace in just finding a quiet space to sit and flip through my thoughts. Often times sitting outside, going on walks for clarity, listening to music or even journaling. I found that writing in a journal was therapeutic.

Another thing that helped was talking about it with good friends or family. Talking about favorite memories or sharing stories brought light to the situation. I also found that gathering photos, videos, some of that person's favorite things and keeping them locked away for safekeeping comforting. Not only to look back on for memories but also in a sense that piece of that person is brought back through the items.

This is one of the most important things that I had to understand. It's okay to not be okay. I had to fall apart before putting myself together again.Putting on a fake smile can make matters worse. If there's anyone that you feel comfortable opening up to about how you feel then be honest about where you are in the grieving stage. Sometimes talking to friends or family isn't enough. In some cases they could say things that aren't very helpful because they really don't know what to say. It's okay to see a counselor or seek professional help. That doesn't mean you're crazy. This shows that you want to get through it. Reaching out for help can be scary but you're doing what's best for you and your personal health. If the loss of a loved one is effecting simple daily task in anyway, shape or form then this could help.

Going to work, classes and hanging out with friends helped as well. I had to stay active to keep my mind off things and continue doing my normal daily activities. There are things that still had to be taken care of. Going on with life and having fun at a time like this is hard but it helped me see that I had to continue on while holding remembrance of the person I lost.

Grieving is hard, in the beginning it can be hard to continue on with life. With time things slowly returned to some sense of normalcy. The grieving of a loved one never truly ends as there will always be an emptiness left behind from the life of that person. There are a wave of emotions that come along with grief. The truth is there isn't one specific way we're supposed to feel. Everyone feels different emotions and at different times. For me it was close to a year before I began to grieve.

I can't say that it's something that will go away. You don't ever get over losing someone but it does get better. You do learn to hold onto the memories, images, and special place you hold for the person you lost in your heart.