"It's Not Your Fault:" Ways of Dealing With Grief in College

There are few things in life we are prepared for. Usually, what I find as a college student is that my life is a constant balancing act of emotions, health and school. But as things go, life likes to throw us for loops. One of the biggest and hardest curve-balls to have to face is a sudden death. Recently, I lost a friend of mine back home, and though it’s been an emotional process, I do realize that I need (and I have been actively seeking) the help that is available on OSU’s campus.

In a previous article, I detailed a number of steps to take if you need help, and explained that OSU has an awesome Counseling Service. What also comes with that is Grief Counseling, which I have found to be extremely helpful in the coping process. With the class load, campus activity, and numerous other factors of day-to-day life, dealing with grief heightens most negative emotions. However, though it takes some strength, there are many ways to help deal with the loss you feel.

1. Counseling Groups: OSU has a great grief counseling group, Memory Circle, that meets every Friday from 10:30am-12pm. They also have a website, which has plenty of other resources to seek out.
2. Friends and Family: Losing someone is always tragic, but there is always help. Friends and family are some of the biggest supporters in our lives–don’t be afraid to reach out to them.
3. School work/exercise/creative outlets: It is very easy to feel scattered and lost during the process, but what I’ve found to be helpful so far is finding an outlet. There are a lot of emotions that arise in light of a loss, and it’s easy to start to take it out in negative ways on your friends, family, peers and in school. However, being able to channel these feelings into something more constructive–like art, exercise, school or work–really makes a difference.

Grief is a long, uneven process, but life continues to go on. As easy as it is to get overwhelmed, angry, or sad, also understand that there will always be a helping hand.

OSU Grief Counseling:

http://www.ccs.ohio-state.edu/self-help/grief/

From jrbriggs.com