Victim Services: Coping with Traumatic Death Due to UAD

and you may feel worn out. This is your body’s reaction to the trauma you have experienced. You may have difficulty falling or staying asleep or constantly feel tired. You may also experience changes in your appetite. You may begin to eat less or skip meals or have a constant hunger and eat more often than normal.

During grief you may be more susceptible to physical illness, reach

out to your physician.

During this early period of grief, it’s important to eat well and get plenty of rest. If the problems persist, see your primary physician to ensure you do not have a stress-related physical condition. Substance Use Some people find the pain too difficult and may turn to alcohol or drugs to ease their pain. Unfortunately, there is no easy fix to make the loss easier to bear. Both alcohol and drugs are likely to make the situation more difficult to cope with, because both may contribute to irrational thoughts and depressed moods. Depression after a traumatic death is common. You may need short-term medication prescribed by your doctor to help you cope with everyday

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