The document discusses various creative activities that can help people cope with grief and mourning after a loss. It describes how music, exercise, painting, yoga, volunteering, companionship, knitting, cleaning, puzzles, cooking can provide emotional release, fulfillment, distraction, a sense of purpose and control, and other benefits. These activities fall under common coping mechanisms like venting, self-actualization, keeping busy, and finding meaning.

1. Creativity and
Mourning
Katelynn Sousa

2. Music
• Songs about death
• Gospel singing at funerals
• Used to evoke emotion
and bring a sense of
closure
• Falls under a “venting”
style of coping

3. Exercise
• Ties into “self
actualization” coping
mechanism
• Seeking improvement out
of missing part of life
• Acts as a distraction and
relaxer

4. Painting
• Works so a similar fashion
of writing and performing
music with emotional
attachments.
• More of a process that
emulates the process of
coping with loss

5. Yoga
• Similar to exercise, but
promotes more of a
lifestyle.
• Promotes inner peace
with one’s self
• Different mindset,
balance of energy
• Self acceptance

6. Volunteering
• Gives a sense of
fulfillment in a time of
loss
• Noticeable and instant
gratification
• More of a “go to”
method of coping

7. Companionship
• Human or animal
• Gives another
purpose in life if one
feels that it’s lost
• Fills a void in one’s
life

8. Knitting
• Very similar to
painting
• Symbolizes a long
process and journey
to recovery
• Accurate task to
keep ones mind
occupied

9. Cleaning
• Cleaning can be
seen as a
“cleansing”
• Cleansing of either
guilt or loss

10. Puzzles
• Fulfills a problem
solving coping aspect
• Natural urge to solve
the problem at hand
• Keep the mourner
busy
• Sense of
accomplishment when
solved

11. Cooking
• Cooking
symbolizes
bringing life
• Creation of
something new
• Food is comfort,
fills an empty
feeling

12. Citations
• http://www.quora.com/Why-were-African-
American-singers-so-much-more-soulful
• http://www.semel.ucla.edu/dual-diagnosis-
program/News_and_Resources/How_Do_You
_Cope