Death is an unpredictable force of nature. Not only is its presence inevitable, it brings along with it grief and the pain of a loss that has been realized. It is a part and parcel of life that just cannot be avoided or shirked away from.
When death comes to claim a loved one, it can be very difficult to confront the truth. It may feel like the world has been uprooted, shaken and turned upside down. For the average Singaporean, however, one might feel that life still moves on. Because our society has ingrained in us a busy and productive way of life to meet with rising costs of living, we must still go on in times of crisis. Work, for some people, might become an outlet for an individual to dive into and escape from the thoughts of death and funerals. The time taken off work after the death of a loved one varies from person to person.
Given how fast-paced and ambitious many Singaporeans of today are, it is not a surprise to see people go straight back to work after the funeral processions. How then does one cope with the feelings of grief while they are on the job?
Therapist Dr. Shatavia Alexander Thomas believes that “grieving is like breathing”. It is something a person has to do it because it is a natural response to the loss that has occurred. Many counsellors and therapists advise that people should not try to delay or suppress grief, for the sake of their mental health. Like breathing, if one acts like they do not have to breathe, they will eventually end up passing out or choking. Grief is therefore something everyone has to go through. It is an experience that cannot be controlled. However, those who are saddled with work can try to manage the grieving experience through various methods.
Because grief is unpredictable, it is not possible to plan for it. It might sound absurd to schedule time for grieving, but it can be beneficial to set aside windows of time amidst a busy schedule. These moments allow you to fully immerse yourself in the emotions of grief. It is more manageable to grieve in stages, rather than feeling overwhelmed for weeks and months. It enables one to recover and return to the daily routine. Through this technique, one can prevent intense emotions such as anger and despair from taking over in tough times.
Bearing in mind the analogy of grieving to breathing, a helpful technique to learn is centring yourself when you are hit by a sudden bolt of grief. To do so, pausing and taking a break can enable you to discover what might be triggering these emotions. By catching your metaphorical breath in life, you will be better able at dealing with unexpected triggers. Very often, giving meaning to the simple tasks can help you find your grip back.
With Embrace Funeral Services, we provide assistance when it comes to funeral services in Singapore. This allows loved ones to grieve appropriately. Those who are working do not have to stress over funeral arrangements and can dedicate time to mourning and paying their final respects.