Mindy Kaling Shares Her Grief Journey After Losing Her Mom To Pancreatic Cancer

Actress and writer Mindy Kaling recently opened up about how the death of her mother affected her life and work. In an interview with Marie Claire, Kaling shared that her mental health changed drastically after her mother died from pancreatic cancer in 2012. "I can only describe it as just anguish for two years," she said. This time period came while Kaling was launching the television show "The Mindy Project" and working 14-16-hour days, and she ultimately decided to seek help from a therapist to work through everything.

Kaling described therapy as "extremely helpful," and eventually got to a place where she was able to channel her grief into her work that others could connect with. Kaling described how she did this for the 2020 Netflix show "Never Have I Ever," which she produced and co-created. The show, a coming-of-age comedy about an Indian-American teenage girl dealing with school and managing the grief of losing her father, offered the perfect opportunity for Kaling to discuss what she went through when she lost her mother.

"Losing my mom and then wanting to talk about it in a way that is not as sad as the experience of going through it, but being able to be like, 'If you went through anything like this, you could watch this and feel seen' — I think that was the goal," Kaling said.

Everyone experiences grief at some point in their lives, whether it's not being selected for a promotion or when a loved one passes away. Grief is a natural response to loss that can cause intense sadness, anxiety, and confusion (via Mayo Clinic).

While there is no one "right" way to deal with grief, there are some expert-recommended tips for managing the grieving process. First, it's important to allow yourself to feel all of the emotions you're experiencing (via WebMD). It can be hard for some people to open up, but it's essential to talk about your feelings in order to begin working through them. You may want to talk about your feelings with family and friends, or even see a therapist if you're struggling. Therapy can be an extremely beneficial way to work through your grief with a professional who can help you find healthy coping methods.

Finding healthy outlets for your emotions, such as writing or exercise, can be beneficial. It's essential to take care of yourself during this difficult time by eating well, getting enough rest, and doing things that you enjoy. If you're struggling to cope with grief, remember that you don't have to go through it alone. There are many resources available to help you through this difficult time.