How we grieve has changed over time. In the past, grief was experienced and shared in person, over phone calls, or sometimes through letters. It was something shared between relatives and loved ones.
The prevalence of technology in life today brings a new aspect to the grieving process. The internet and social media are now open platforms where people share blogs or posts about loss, sometimes including intimate thoughts and feelings, such as how they’re trying to find their new sense of normal moving forward.
The digital realm can provide relief for those who are grieving and even help the healing process. But it can also cause pain. Read on to learn more about how to navigate the digital landscape while grieving.
Set Limits
Social media platforms often share highlights or memories from previous years. These digital reminders can act as triggers for someone who is going through the grieving process. Everyone handles the grieving process in their own way, and some might welcome these notifications as reminders to keep their lost loved one’s memory alive.
For others, these notifications can be a shock that can disrupt the healing process with overwhelming emotions. Make sure you set limits on your screen time during the healing process. By allowing yourself to log on only during a certain time frame or for a certain number of minutes each day, you can limit painful reminders and stay away from doomscrolling.
Take Breaks
Time limits can be beneficial, but a longer break or digital detox can sometimes be necessary. The grieving process can be hard to navigate, especially because there isn’t really a right or a wrong way to do it. Everyone handles grief according to their own terms.
However you grieve, it’s important to make sure you’re actually acknowledging all of your different thoughts and emotions. This means not using things like social media to distract yourself and avoid feeling your feelings.
If you notice that your time on social media is making you feel worse instead of better, you might want to consider temporarily deactivating your account while you work on processing and healing. It can be uncomfortable at first, but social media detox days can help you reflect and process your thoughts and feelings.
Share Digital Memories
Depending on how you’re feeling about the loss you’re grieving and your relationship with the digital world, you may find relief in creating digital memories. Social media can sometimes be a huge help and outlet for family and friends who have lost someone. It’s a place to share memories in forms like stories, pictures, and videos.
Join an Online Support Group
Grief can turn your entire world upside down. It can be difficult to partake in the normal activities, roles, and responsibilities that you engaged in before the loss. It can even be difficult to complete normal day-to-day tasks like getting out of bed, eating, sleeping at regular times, or wanting to leave the comfort of your own home.
If you don’t feel ready to leave your home just yet, you can still find support online through an online support group. These online groups allow you to connect with like-minded individuals who share similar experiences, thoughts, and feelings, and this can help you feel a little less alone. Online support groups sometimes include virtual meetings, online forums, or even online communities.
Seek Professional Help
The digital world can be both a blessing and a curse. If you’re having a hard time navigating the digital or real world, you’re not alone. The grieving process isn’t easy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get through this. Reach out today to learn more about how grief counseling can help you move forward again.
