For people who suffer through tragedies that devastate homes, losing significant emotional items—those that reflected who you are—can be agonising. Some pointers for both practically and emotionally overcoming it: Relax and use patience.

According to psychology professor Mary-Frances O'Connor of the University of Arizona and author of "The Grieving Body: How the Stress of Loss Can Be an Opportunity for Healing," grief may be physically demanding.

Movement. Get enough sleep, but be aware you can suffer from insomnia. Create fresh routines to take place instead of the current ones.

"Our body is reacting to not having habits, to uncertainty," O'Connor notes. "Our body also absorbs the shock over time."

Recovering from loss calls for "understanding the impact it's having," advises O'Connor. She advises one to be patient.

Record the memories; leave the worldly objects to fade.

You really have to jot down the stories. Record the narratives, advises decluttering guru Matt Paxton, author of "Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff."

"True is the old adage that you can't take with you," he says. "The stories they tell define more than the objects."

Organise and record the mementos you still own.

Make use of technology. Sort and digitise your precious items; photograph them. Paxton advises starting with the top five most significant items and then selecting top 20 images that matter. Use programs designed for cataloguing items and documents. Share what those missing things stood for. Get their meaning for next generations as well as for you. Ultimately, the real objects are simply stuff.