Grief counselors offer two important tips for coping with the death of a loved one: get support and take care of yourself.

When someone close dies, many survivors are startled by the roller-coaster of emotions: disbelief, shock, guilt, anger, fear, and of course sadness.   For many, there are even physical symptoms: fatigue, weight loss or gain, insomnia.   This is a natural reaction and there’s nothing wrong with feeling any of these.   But it is a season to seek help from friends, family, even professionals.

Here are some links to help you take care of yourself:

HelpGuide, a non-profit online resource, has an entire section on coping with the loss of loved ones, including good advice on getting help when grief doesn’t go away.

GriefNet is an Internet community with nearly 50 online support groups for persons dealing with grief.

The University of Texas offers a good overview of the grieving process and an excellent reading list.

While not dealing directly with death, the Family Caregiver Alliance offers great counsel on how to take care of yourself during stressful and difficult times.

New Leaf Resources offers both an overview of how to take care of your self, but a services of videos to help you better understand what you are going through.

Mentaline.com offers information on how to counsel yourself through grief and loss.