The Importance of Self-Care for Grieving Parents

How Art Can Help Us Heal and Release Emotions

Losing a child is one of the most devastating experiences any of us can go through. The emotional, physical, and mental toll it takes on us is unimaginable. I’ve experienced firsthand how overwhelming grief can feel, and how it impacts not only our hearts but also our bodies. In fact, research shows that parents who lose a child face a 32% higher risk of dying early compared to those who haven’t lost a child. Grieving parents are also more likely to suffer from heart disease, stress-related illnesses, and mental health struggles.

This reality is harsh, but it also highlights the importance of taking self-care seriously. We can’t afford to ignore our well-being, despite the loss of our child. In our proper time, we need to actively seek ways to heal and restore our emotional, mental, and physical health. One powerful tool that can help us do this is art. Through art, we have the opportunity to release our emotions, engage in a meditative practice, and find new meaning in life. Research has shown that art isn’t just a creative outlet, it’s also something that can have positive effects on our mental health. As grieving parents, using art as a form of self-care could make all the difference in our healing process.

Grief and the Toll on Our Health

The loss of our child doesn’t just affect us emotionally; it takes a toll on our physical health as well. A study on parental bereavement showed that we, as grieving parents, are at a higher risk of physical health problems. The grief we experience can lead to chronic stress, which increases the likelihood of developing heart disease, depression, and anxiety. This stress doesn’t just go away with time. It lingers, wearing us down both mentally and physically.

It’s also been shown that the impact of child loss can last for decades.  We’re not just grieving today, but we’re carrying the weight of our loss into the future. And this stress adds up, contributing to long-term health issues. But here’s the good news: we don’t have to wait for the physical toll to worsen. We can take steps to care for ourselves and manage our grief in healthy ways.

Art as a Tool for Releasing Emotions

One of the most powerful things about art is that it allows us to express emotions we might not be able to put into words. As grieving parents, we often have feelings so deep and overwhelming that it’s difficult to express them verbally. Art gives us a way to process and express the grief we carry in our hearts. Whether we’re painting, drawing, or sculpting, the act of creating something can serve as a release for our emotions.

Art helps us externalize grief, taking the emotions that feel too heavy to carry and putting them somewhere we can see and feel them. It’s a safe way to work through the pain without judgment or fear of being misunderstood. Art is a non-verbal way of saying, “This is what I’m going through,” and it can help us heal, bit by bit.

Using Art for Meditation and Mindfulness

Art also offers us a way to slow down and become more mindful of the present moment. As grieving parents, it’s easy to get lost in our thoughts, overwhelmed by the past and future. Art can help us get out of our heads and focus on what’s in front of us. The process of creating art, whether it’s drawing a picture or molding clay, forces us to focus on the here and now, offering us a kind of mental break from the weight of our grief.

This act of mindfulness can be incredibly soothing, lowering our stress levels and giving us space to breathe. By focusing on the creative process, we can disconnect from the chaos of grief and find a moment of peace. These small breaks from the overwhelming feelings we face every day can add up, providing relief from the emotional strain we carry.

The Mental Health Benefits of Art

Not only does art help us release emotions, but it also has tangible mental health benefits. Studies show that creative expression can reduce the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD, all of which grieving parents are at higher risk for. The act of creating art offers a healthy outlet for trauma, helping us to process and make sense of the overwhelming feelings that come with our grief.

Additionally, art can help boost our self-esteem and self-awareness. When we use art to express ourselves, we’re not only working through our grief, we’re also reconnecting with our sense of identity. Grief can feel like it takes away who we are, but through creative expression, we can begin to reclaim parts of ourselves. Art helps us to rebuild and heal from the inside out.

Taking Self-Care Seriously and Using Art for Healing

The loss of our children is a trauma that affects us deeply, and it doesn’t just stop at the emotional level. As grieving parents, we need to take our mental and physical health seriously. The impact of grief on our health is profound, and studies like the one by Jieun Song remind us that it can shorten our lives if we don’t take steps to care for ourselves. Art modalities offer us a powerful way to process emotions, engage in mindful healing, and find new meaning in life.

Through art, we can release the weight of our grief, calm our minds, and create something beautiful in memory of our children. It’s not just about expressing grief—it’s about reclaiming our health, our identity, and our future. Taking the time for self-care, especially through art, is not only beneficial, it’s necessary for our healing. Let’s give ourselves permission to grieve, to heal, and to create. 

If you’re feeling ready to explore art as a tool for healing, I invite you to join us for our Online  Art Workshop for Grieving Parents, happening on March 1 at 1:00 pm EST. This workshop will be led by a compassionate Art Therapy Master’s student who understands the unique challenges we face as grieving parents. It will be a safe space to express your emotions, connect with others who are on a similar journey, and begin using art to release the pain and find moments of peace.

You don’t need any prior art experience; just an open heart and a willingness to explore. We’ll guide you through a creative exercise designed to help you process grief in a gentle, supportive environment.

References:

• Song, J., Mailick, M. R., Greenberg, J. S., & Floyd, F. J. (2019). Mortality in parents after the death of a child. Social Science & Medicine, 112522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112522
• Stroebe, M., Hansson, R. O., Schut, H., & Stroebe, W. (2007). Handbook of bereavement research and practice: Advances in theory and intervention. American Psychological Association.