Dealing with loss and being sad - information for kids

Nobody wants to think about it, but at one or other time you are going to loose someone or something - it can be the death of somebody you love or a pet or it can be a friendship that ends or you loose something that you value or somebody you love moves away.  Unfortunately this is part of live and can cause a lot of sadness, but there are ways to deal with it.

To feel sad about something that happened is normal.  Give yourself time to understand that this is just a sign of how important something or someone was to you.  To miss them can be very painful and it feels like there is a hole in your heart.  These are normal feelings and there is nothing wrong with you.  It is also okay to talk about it and admit that it makes you sad.

Nobody can tell you how you are suppose to feel when you are sad.  It is personal, which means it will differ from person to person.  Some people will carry on quickly with their normal life and others will take a while.  Everybody deals with it in their own way.  Take your time and do the things that you want to do that makes you feel better.

It is important that you express your feelings, but you can choose when to do it.  Maybe you only feel comfortable with telling your friend or your family.  Maybe you are not ready to talk about it and that is also okay.  There will come a time when you feel ready and then you can talk to somebody.

If you are not ready to talk, you can always write down your feelings, but understand that you will also have other feelings besides from sadness.  There will be times when you are happy and times when you feel guilty or even angry.  It is important that you understand that most of these feelings are of how you are trying to deal with your sadness.

Sometimes it is easier to talk to people who are on the 'outside' and were not affected by the loss and are not dealing with their own sadness.

As time goes by you will start feeling better and less sad and in pain.  This does not mean that you have forgotten about the person, it just means that you have found a way to carry on and accepting the loss.  Do not feel guilty if you feel better and want to move on.  This is natural.  You have heard the expression that 'Time heals all wounds.'

If you have lost a loved one or a pet you would want to do something by which you can remember that person or animal.  You maybe want to make a memory box with photos and letters and items that reminds you of them or plant a tree for them or write a poem.  There are many ways in which we can remember and even if you do not make something, you will always have your memories and it is fine to think of them from time to time.

You will go through different stages of feeling sad and remember that this is part of the natural healing process.  We all need to go through it that you can come out on the other side and feel better and okay to carry on with your life.  Have a look at the different stages.

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