Losing a home is an experience no person wants to go through in life. It comes with a lot of emotions such as anger, sadness, guilt, loneliness, shock, denial and even depression. Statistics show that at least 2 million people lose their homes to foreclosures every year. In the UK, over 58,000 are classified as homeless per year. Many home losses come as a result of losing employment or business, sicknesses, divorce and natural calamities like fires and hurricanes. How do you overcome the loss, get over the feelings that come with it and build on to a more promising life. There are strategies that have proven effective in getting to accept the loss and creating a new future.
Discuss with your children
Explaining to children why the family has to move after losing a house is not an easy task. Like grownups, children love stability and get disturbed when they have to get out of the place they love as home. As a parent, you should take time with your children and explain why you lost the home and what lies ahead. Children struggle with questions like: Why could you not save the home?, Was this a fair deal?, Where shall we be living now?, Shall we move out of our school? Can we come back to this home?. The parent needs to let the children know how the loss came about though not in all detail. They may learn something like money management, the value of savings and many other lessons to help them in future. They also need to be assured that the family will find another good place to live including a school. There may be need to let the children engage their friends and find ways they can connect after moving out. These strategies will help children to cope with the loss and build resilience.
Seek social support
The psychological effects of home loss can be devastating if one allows ruminating and anger. Some people feel they want to keep the pain to themselves but end up with deeper problems. Opening up to people in your social circle is one way of finding the healing and inner peace you mostly need in order to move on. Speaking to a close friend, a counselor or a spiritual leader is a great way to roll away the burden and the pain. It is always good to have someone you can talk to about your feelings and get advice on how to cope. You can also join support groups for people who have previously lost homes and are working on a new beginning or those who have overcome and are back on their feet.
Get a different perspective
Feeling bad about yourself for losing a home cannot help you in the recovery process. Although there is always a time of anger and resentment, these should not last for long. You need to look at life in a positive way and start seeing yourself over the moment. Remember, losing a home means you need to go out and look for a place to stay, help your children get back to school and think of your next attempt at owning a house again. You might want to focus on your credit rating and ensure your score is improved to be able to qualify for another mortgage. You can also document your financial life and the path that led to your downfall with a view to learn from your mistakes and help others. Overall, keeping your mind fixated on the loss only makes it more painful and delays your recovery.
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