How to Cope With the Death of an Adult Child?

It generally takes fewer tolls on us when we lose someone close to us at an older age. In those cases, it is comparatively easier to accept death as you get to commemorate plenty of memories you shared together.

However, grieving becomes more adverse when you experience the unfortunate demise of your child. At times when requisite intervention does not reach the concerned person, they can develop traumatic symptoms. Here, we have presented some of the medically-backed theories and counselling ways of coping with the death of an adult child.

1. Let Time Heal You

Overcoming the sorrow of losing your child does not necessitate a standard set of activities. You must understand that burying emotions overnight is not possible. Grieving is a gradual process that may even take a year or longer to get resolved. 

There should not be any reason to panic if the symptoms do not fade away as quickly as you expected. Rather it will be helpful if you gain awareness of how to move on and find a greater purpose in life.

2. Get Used to a Busy Schedule

3. Allow Others to Help You

4. Make Room for Self-Compassion

As mentioned earlier, staying busy with a tight schedule will surely help you not run into miseries quite often. But this is truly going to fail in the long run as it is bound to make you more stressed. 

Thus instead of only focusing on your duties at this time, it will help if you simply do those things that make you feel good. Particularly look for activities that help you grow stronger emotionally and physically.

1. Guilt Feeling Creeps in

The parents may feel guilty due to a number of reasons. Here are some of the most common ones:

• You have stayed separate from your child for a long time.
• Probably you missed the early signs (this is applicable if any unfortunate event takes place following drunken driving, substance abuse, etc.)
• You were somehow responsible for the loss.

If these thoughts are gushing in frequently after the incident, you should not panic as our brains react this way. While undergoing this reviewing phase, be compassionate towards yourself and slowly but steadily try to understand that no one is flawless.

2. Loneliness Torments You

3. Your Feelings Are Misunderstood

The death of an adult child is often considered to be less adverse when compared to the death of a newborn. Though it does not make sense, people often think this way. 

Thus they get over the misfortunate event faster and expect the parents also to recover at the same pace. This results in conflicts as the degree of pain while coping with the death of an adult child is misjudged alarmingly. 

Loss of people close to you is unbearable, no matter at whatever age they leave us behind. While grieving, it is crucial to know why you should recover fully and what effects will follow otherwise. This guide will surely help in coping with the death of an adult child.