Grieving is a difficult process in any situation. As someone suffering from the loss of a loved one, you may feel as though you are not handling the situation like you should or would like to. While people are generally well meaning, you will often get loads of advice about how you “should” handle your own grief. Just remember, you have a right to your own feelings.
As someone grieving a profound loss, remember that you have the following rights when mourning your loved one:
I have the right to grieve the death of my loved one.
I have the right to grieve the death on my own time.
I have the right to my feelings and upsurges of sorrow.
I have the right to grieve even when others think I should be over it.
I have the right to remember and talk about my lost loved one at any time.
I have the right to demonstrate my feelings of grief in my own way.
I have the right to repeat a stage of grieving as many times as I need to.
I have the right to phase in and out of a particular stage of grieving as often as I need to.
I have the right to attach my own meanings to the loss.
I have the right to expect you to empathize with my grieving because some day you’ll be in my place.