Coping With Grief After Losing a House or Personal Property

Isaiah 53:3 tells us that Jesus was a man of many sorrows, well aquainted with grief.

While grief is often thought of in terms of death, it can also extend to other losses, including the loss of a house or personal property. Here are some tips for how to cope with grief after losing your home or an item that held special significance to you:

• Pace yourself. After losing your home, you may feel like you need to rush to find a replacement. Instead, give yourself time and space to consider what your best next steps should be. Spend time praying together as a family, considering what each individual in the family valued in the lost home, and brainstorming creative ways to find those things in a new home. Focus on looking ahead to a new sanctuary to build memories. This will also provide you with the time you need to consider your finances so that you don’t rush into a decision that will cause you stress later on.

• Hold onto your memories. If you and your family spent years building memories in the home that you lost, you may be grieving the loss of those special times. You might also feel similar emotions if the item you lost was a family heirloom or a souvenir from a memorable trip. But it’s important to remember that those memories live in your heart, not in the physical house or object.

• Focus on the hope of new opportunities. It can be incredibly difficult to remain positive after a loss like this, but try to see the silver lining whenever possible. Maybe you had been discussing moving to a different area, and losing your home provides you with the opportunity to do so. Or perhaps you had held onto your mother’s bakeware for sentimental reasons, but after losing it, you now have the chance to own a more modern set that will better serve your needs.

Get Help Healing From Your Loss

Have you lost your home or personal property items that were meaningful to you? We may be able to help you get through this difficult time. Our therapists at Covenant Counseling Center understand grief. We can help you shoulder your burden, pray with you, encourage you, and provide you with the tools you need to cope with your loss. Contact us today to schedule a therapy appointment.