The Exhaustion of Grief

This was posted on Facebook by Tracy Shelton, who lives around the corner from us and works for the Washtenaw Country Sheriff. The article lead me to a website called, "Grief Toolbox" which could be helpful in the future. I've altered a little bit of this because they overemphasized the word "exhaustion" (on purpose to make a point but it's still annoying).

How to Handle the Exhaustion of Grief

Loss can be swift and devastating, like a chasm opening beneath our feet. No warning. No way to prepare. Lives can change forever in an instant.

This leaves us stunned and like we're partially paralyzed. Grief affects our whole being:

Grief is intense. Emotion surges forth, and our feelings are all over the place.
Grief isn't smooth. It's more like a roller-coaster.
Grief isn't a sprint. It's a marathon.
Grief smacks us cognitively. Our mental capacity takes a hit. We forget and misplace things. That's frustrating.
Grief drastically impacts our decision-making. We don't see things clearly right now. This can lead to further regrets.
Grief puts us on edge. We get easily irritated, and sometimes angry. Anger is draining.
Grief makes every little thing huge. Each task takes a terrific amount of energy.
Grief causes us to question things. This further upsets our world. That's scary.
Grief forces us to remake the future. What we planned is no more. This requires a massive amount of energy.

Most of us don't take grief seriously enough. It takes a huge toll on us. Grief is body-slamming, mind-numbing, heart-breaking, and soul-rattling.

It feels like we're helpless and just along for the ride on this relentless, exhausting roller-coaster. There are a few things, however, we can do:

Breathe. Breathe deeply. Seriously. Stop. Take a moment, and breathe. Do this often, many times a day.
Be patient with yourself. This is exhausting. It should be.
Release the usual expectations of yourself. Everything has changed. To expect yourself to do the "usual" right now is grossly unrealistic. Pare back. Get more margin. Put more space in your routine.
Be very nice to yourself. You've taken a huge hit. Take care of you. Eat well, rest, and exercise.
Get around people who know grief. They can give you the perspective you need for this unwelcome journey.

Contrary to what you may feel, you're not alone. We're in this together. You're not crazy, but grief can be. You're going to make it, but it's a bumpy road.

Worn out? How could you not be? This is exhausting.