Dealing With The Emotional Trauma Of Cleaning A Deceased Relative’s Home

The heart-breaking loss of a loved one, especially when they are a close friend or family member, can be absolutely gut-wrenching, and sometimes the sad truth of the matter is that you may never get over the feeling of loss, rather you will learn, in time, to deal with it.

Suppose you are tasked with the emotionally traumatic responsibility of clearing out a deceased relative’s home. In that case, you may well be feeling mixed feelings of dread and relief, the latter due to the potential feeling of future closure and an ability to move forward in your life.

Here, in an effort to ease those feelings, is a comprehensive guide to protecting your emotional health and wellbeing when clearing out a loved one who has passed away’s personal and private home.

Take As Much Time As You Need

One of the most important things to remember in this situation is that there is categorically no time limit whatsoever on how long it should take you to complete the task.

As with everythingin life, such things often take considerably longer than one imagines, and the best way to protect your emotional wellbeing in this traumatic situation is to take your time. Consider concentrating on one room at a time, perhaps even one room per day, and slowly and steadily opening drawers and cupboards. Additionally, be sure to take regular breaks and ideally go outside in the fresh air.

Don’t Spend Too Long Inside Their Home Alone

Unfortunately, the ideal situation of having helpers that were also deeply emotionally connected to your deceased loved one is often, in reality, unobtainable.

However, enlisting the help of a trusted family member or close friend to at least spend some of the time helping clear out even one room will do wonders for your state of mind during the process and may well provide welcome light relief from such a daunting task.

What Do I Throw Away?

The answer to this is simple: Throw away as much or as little as you are comfortable with.

Suppose you understandably cannot bring yourself to throw away items or are faced with bulkier items that are difficult to shift. In that case,an excellent and surprisingly affordable solution is to contact a reputable and renowned San Diego self storage company, who will ensure that your loved one’s belongings are stored safely and securely for as long as you want and need them to be.

Preserve & Keep Sentimental Items

Another way to try and minimize the painful process is to ensure to set aside and keep any photographs within the home and, even more pertinently, any keepsakes that your loved one deliberately preserved and kept safe and secure for many years.

To best stay connected to your deceased loved one, saving and treasuring sentimental items that were clearly dear to their own heart and important to them will enhance the feeling that you are correctly and sufficiently honoring their life and legacy.