Sara Bailey lost her husband Greg, unexpectedly over a year ago. She never anticipated that she would be a grieving single mom, raising a son and daughter on her own. In learning to cope with her grief, surrounded by the love and support of her friends, family and even strangers, Sara created a site called TheWidow.net and is the author of an upcoming book called Hope and Help After Loss: A Guide For Newly Widowed Parents.

Sara reached out to me requesting to post an article on my website, CochraneOsteo.com, with tips on how to get better sleep after losing a loved one. Writing about loss helps her heal and offers hope to others who have suffered a loss.

The loss of loved ones, friends, and colleagues has been an ongoing theme this year for myself. Sara’s email couldn’t have been more timely as I was also grieving the loss of a co-worker to pancreatic cancer that same week. She left behind two young kids and a doting husband. Her loss was the 5th of the year for me and Sara’s story made me think of this husband and father, now raising his children alone and the loneliness he and others must experience. Sharing Sara’s website and article helps to build a community of love and support for those living with loss.

Sara’s article reminded me of the benefits of Osteopathy for those living with loss. Grief is a very powerful emotion that is not only natural but necessary. It allows us to process our loss and, eventually, create a new normal without our loved ones present. Physically, our emotional state may create a stress response, where our nervous system and even the hormonal systems become unbalanced. We may experience difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, poor or disrupted digestion, headaches, migraines, fluctuations in weight, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal fatigue over time, and a lower immune system. As a holistic therapy, Osteopathy treats the physical body, removing the strains which cause dysfunction in the organs, tissues, nervous system, and the fluids (blood, lymph and cerebrospinal fluid). This allows patients to feel more calm, sleep more soundly, and promotes the optimal function of all of the body’s systems.

There are many resources available for those who are suffering from grief associated with loss, including family physicians, grief counselors, and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) www.cmha.ca.

Getting restful sleep is so important to our healing and overall well-being, mentally and physically, and I encourage everyone to adopt some, if not all of these strategies for healthy sleep hygiene. Here is her article:

Finding Rest After Losing A Loved One: Tips For Good Sleep

Finding good rest after the loss of a loved one can be next to impossible; stress and grief can make sleep elusive, or it might just be hard to get used to sleeping alone. You may feel anxiety after such a big loss, or it might be difficult to rest in the room that you shared with your loved one. Grief--in all its stages--can be extraordinarily hard to overcome, and when you can’t get good rest, you’re more likely to be less productive at work or school or to have issues with a mood disorder, such as depression.

Fortunately, there are several things you can do to get good rest after losing a loved one. From redecorating your bedroom to practicing self-care and getting daily exercise, there are many ways to draw restful sleep to you. Think about the best ways to find relaxation, as this will help your body and mind prepare for good sleep, and remember that diet and exercise can go a long way when it comes to taking care of yourself.

Keep reading for some great tips on how to find better sleep after losing a loved one.

Fit in a workout

Working out every day is one of the best ways there is to get your body prepared for good rest. Not only does it help tire you out at the end of the day, it can also boost your mood and help your mental health, as it releases chemicals in the brain that make you feel good. If you don’t already have a routine, start slowly with something like going for a walk in the morning with the dog, or going for a run on your lunch break.

Practice self-care

Self-care falls under a large umbrella, but basically, it entails anything that makes you feel good in a healthy way. You can practice it by learning to relax with yoga and meditation, finding time to sit with a good book, taking a hot shower, spending time with loved ones, or engaging in an activity that you enjoy. Taking some time for yourself is a great way to prevent bad habits, such as using drugs or alcohol in an effort to cope with stress.

Eat right

The right diet can help you get healthy, but did you know it can also help you sleep better? Lean proteins and dark leafy greens are always a good idea, but just as important are the foods you should stay away from. Anything containing caffeine--including chocolate--should be avoided before bed, as well as meat, which is hard to digest and can interfere with your ability to rest.

Find the right mattress

The right mattress can help you sleep well no matter what position you sleep in. Look at the material it’s made of when shopping for a new one; gel mattresses will help keep you cool while you rest, while adjustable ones will help you get comfortable after a long day. If your current mattress is more than five to seven years old, consider replacing it.

Use a device for easy rest

There are tons of devices on the market that will help you get to sleep, but it’s important to do a little research to figure out which ones will work best for your needs. From technology that allows you to keep one ear tuned to your child to an alarm clock that plays soothing music to help you relax, there are plenty of things you can use to help you get to dreamland.

Finding good rest after losing a loved one can be a long process, so it’s important to try to stay patient and take good care of yourself. Meditation will help, as will finding time for yourself. A little pampering can go a long way toward helping you relax.