Instructions

1

Validate the severity of your grief. Do not feel guilty if the loss of a friend seems more profound than that of a family member. It doesn't mean that you love your family less. We often develop bonds with friends that go beyond blood relations. If your best friend happens to be a family member or spouse it is all the more difficult to cope.
2

Find engaging activities to replace the time you shared with your friend, including chatting on the phone. If you conversed frequently, you may face months of painful reminders whenever the phone rings.
3

Don't isolate. Remain in contact with others, especially friends and loved ones. After coping with the acute phase of a friend's death, it is important to reach out to others. If you've ignored some relationships, in lieu of your friendship, rebuild and refortify them.
4

You may feel overwhelmed with the feelings that no one will understand you as your friend once did. Tell yourself that other rewarding close relationships are likely as long as you remain open to them.
5

Try journaling or poetry whenever you feel a desperate need to call your friend. A distinct difficulty in coping with the death of a friend is feeling the need to share your grief with the person you've lost, especially if the friend was your primary source of support.
6

Don't force yourself to forget your friend. Think of how this person enriched your life and remember the support, laughter and love you shared. Carry on some of the things you shared and introduce others to these activities. Let the mourning pass naturally.