Mourning the Death of a Mother: Strategies for Daughters to Cope effective address the grief
Losing a mother is an emotional experience that can leave individuals feeling overwhelmed and lost. It's important to remember that you're not alone, and support is available during this difficult time.
Mindfulness, the ability to focus on the present moment, can help manage painful memories related to the loss of a mother. Keeping up with traditions or starting new ones may also help ease the burden of loss.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.), a variety of normal emotions may occur in the year following parental loss, including regret, remorse, anxiety, guilt, emptiness, rage, anger, sadness, and numbness.
A 2021 study has linked parental loss with depression and a compromised sense of self in young adults. Grief has also been linked to increased chances of cancer, cardiac issues, immune disorders, and high blood pressure, according to another study.
If grief persists for more than a year or interferes with daily tasks, seeking help from a mental health professional may be beneficial. Grief that impairs daily functioning or persists for longer than a year may require support from a mental health professional.
Focusing on happy reminders such as pictures, books, or keepsakes can provide comfort during the grieving process. Honoring a mother's memory can take different forms, such as donating to her favourite charity or achieving a personal goal she desired.
A 2015 study found that women have a more intense grief response and more difficulty adjusting to the loss of a parent. The death of a mother can have more negative effects on daughters than on sons, according to another study.
Women who experience the loss of a mother are more likely than men to binge drink, have a greater decline in self-esteem, and have a lower level of personal mastery (personal growth).
Maternal figures can be found in various relationships, not only blood relatives. Offering maternal support to others who have experienced parental loss can be a meaningful way to cope with grief.
Loss of a mother can mean more than clinical symptoms, and may include feelings of losing an important part of your support system, regret for lost family traditions and cultural knowledge, and strained relationships within the family.
Books such as "Healing After the Loss of Your Mother: A Grief & Comfort Manual" by Elaine Mallon, "Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss" by Hope Edelman, and "How to Survive the Loss of a Parent: A Guide for Adults" by Lois F. Akner with Catherine Whitney may help with grief. Local support groups, online chat forums, and mental health professionals can also provide assistance during the grieving process.
In times of overwhelming grief or thoughts of self-harm, resources like the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, and Befrienders Worldwide offer immediate help. Remember, you are not alone in the grieving process. Support is available, and it's important to reach out when you need it.
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