Coping with Anxiety While Grieving

Anxiety is a state of distress or uneasiness about future uncertainties. An anxious person might be tense, restless and/or jittery, unable to sleep, unable to concentrate, short of breath or numb. These physical signs may overshadow the psychological symptoms of fear, worry or apprehension. Look for:

• Difficulty solving problems
• Excitability
• Muscle tension
• Trembling
• Nightmares
• Difficulty breathing
• Tight feeling in the stomach
• A sense that “I am losing control”

How to Prevent Anxiety

• Get the facts
• Talk with someone who has been through a similar situation
• Increase participation in pleasant, distracting activities
• Increase companionship and time spent with friends and family
• Learn a relaxation technique

Things to Consider

• An anxious person is often a demanding person
• Anxiety may lead to sleep deprivation
• If you previously coped with anxiety by becoming busy and are no longer able to be so active, consider pursuing other coping strategies

What to Do

• Try to determine exactly what thoughts make you feel anxious
• Talk to someone about your worries and fears
• Know that it is OK to feel sad and afraid
• Seek help through counseling, support groups, or a minister, priest or rabbi
• Recall how you have coped with similar feelings in the past
• Explore and learn relaxation techniques
• Explore and learn visualization techniques
• Keep a log of your moods and thoughts throughout the day
• Take medications prescribed by your doctor for anxiety

Finally, families caring for a loved one who is on hospice care with VITAS can ask their team manager or bereavement services manager about a wonderful book published by VITAS. It addresses the anxiety and worries associated with a terminal illness. Author Maureen Kramlinger, MA, CT, the author of Making the Most of the Time We Have, says this in her introduction: