For example, try inhaling for 5 seconds, holding your breath for 5 seconds, and then exhaling your breath for 5 seconds until you feel more calm.
Plan ahead and bring a small bottle of water with you if you think you might get emotional during the funeral.
If you feel your facial muscles tensing up, take a couple deep breaths and relax your shoulders. Relaxing other parts of your body will help you relax your face as well.
These distractions shouldn’t be incredibly painful—they’re just meant to distract you.
You don’t need to pinch your nose so hard that it hurts, but create slight pressure with your fingers.
If you’ve already started crying, this method won’t work as well since the tears have likely already spilled.
For example, maybe the person gave you a funny birthday present or you both attended a hilarious play. Focus on these fun memories to help lift your spirits.
For example, maybe you helped a friend out recently and they were very appreciative, or you heard an uplifting song on the radio earlier in the day.
If you find yourself starting to cry during the eulogy, try to focus on a corner of the podium or the back of a stranger’s head to help you calm down. If necessary, you can also focus on an item super close to you, such as your handbag, fingernail, or jacket sleeve.
You can also recite poetry in your head or list the things you need to do in the upcoming week.
