You might be tempted to keep your emotions inside so that you don’t cause everyone else around you extra stress by seeing how worried you are. But bottling your feelings up doesn’t make them go away. In fact, they will probably only grow stronger.

Being worried and frightened all the time can make your mind foggy and your body tense and tired. This makes it even harder to manage through this difficult time. Managing your strong feelings won’t be quick and easy, but it is definitely possible. Sometimes it may not feel like it, but you WILL get through this!

There are heaps of things you can do to give yourself a bit of an outlet and help you feel more in control of your feelings. Everyone deals with stuff in different ways. You might have already tried some of these things and find they didn’t work. Keep trying, you will find something that helps you feel better. Here are some ideas:

Talk about it

Putting your feelings into words can make them seem more manageable. Don’t try to deal with this on your own. It doesn’t have to be someone from your family or friends, it can be anyone. It may really help to see a professional, like a counsellor or social worker who understands a lot about grief and loss.

Listen to music

Choose a song that describes how you are feeling, turn it up and have a good sing, a yell or a cry. You can also use music to change how you are feeling. Listen to songs that make you feel relaxed and happy. You could also write your own songs or change a few words to a song you like to express how you feel.

Cry

Give in to the waterworks; it can be a big relief.

Exercise

Exercise can release the “feel good” hormones in your body. Make a playlist for your iPod and go for a walk or run. Even some simple stretches can help. When things are getting crazy at home, it can help if you keep doing your normal activities, like sport or dancing.

Take a long shower

Sing, cry or scream while you’re in there.

Get creative

No one’s expecting a masterpiece, but getting arty can be really relaxing. You could try drawing, painting, photography, scrapbooking, collage or digital art. Getting started is often the hardest part. You could try to show how you are feeling now, or your favourite memory with your parent. Or nothing related to anything at all. Just draw the cat.

Learn something new

Ever wanted to try the guitar? Salsa dancing? Yoga? Learning a new skill can help you take your mind off things.

Write stuff down

A long ramble in a journal or blog might be just what you need. You could also write poems, stories or letters to your parents.

Read, watch, play

It’s OK to zone out sometimes with TV, movies, books, radio, magazines, board games or computer games.

Take a break from it all

Go out with your friends and have a laugh and talk about different things. You’re still allowed to enjoy yourself. Don’t feel guilty for wanting your own life.

Punch a pillow

Or chuck a tantrum on your bed. You have a right to be p*ssed off, but it’s best not to take it out on other people.

Meditate

Even just taking one minute a few times a day to breathe deeply can release some of the stress and fear from your body. Find a quiet place, sit comfortably and just focus on your breath. If your mind starts to wonder, just keep bringing your thoughts back to your breath until that is all you are thinking about.

Set goals

It can help to have things to look forward to. You don’t have to dream up where you’ll be when you’re 65, you could just think about what you’d like to achieve by the end of the month or year. It could be things about your family or relationships, jobs or education. Think about why you want to achieve something and then write down an achievable action you will do to make sure you get there.

Get a bit philosophical

It might sound a bit funny at first, but taking time out to ponder the ‘big picture’ might help you get your head around things.