What Is Denial in Grief, and How Can I Manage it?
Denial can look like: feeling stuck, an inability to say what happened, pretending as if nothing happened, not changing anything in your life to accommodate the loss, refusing to talk about the person or what happened, physical feeling of being small or hidden.
How to Be With It: Let the fog settle. Don’t rush to clear it. Sit in the stillness, where the world feels paused. This is not avoidance; it’s survival. Breathe into the numbness. It’s okay to not feel everything all at once.
Tangible, Creative Actions:
Create a “Grief Altar”: Set up a small space with objects that remind you of what you’ve lost—a photo, a trinket, a candle. Light the candle when you need to feel close to the memory.
Write a “Not Ready” Letter: Write a letter to yourself or the universe that begins with, “I’m not ready to accept this yet.” Let it be a safe space for your disbelief.
Take a Silent Walk: Go for a walk without your phone or music. Let the rhythm of your steps and the sounds of nature hold you in the present moment.
Grief doesn’t come with a map, but you don’t have to walk through it alone. I’m Laura Walton, LMFT and Founder of Grief on Purpose. I've created courses, resource bundles, and journals designed to give you tools, companionship, and a place to begin again. Whether you’re navigating the death of someone you love, carrying the weight of trauma, or simply looking for a gentle guide back to yourself, I'd be honored to help you. I am currently booking clients for both clinical and non-clinical modalities.
