“…the death of a parent is not something that becomes easier with age, nor is it a loss that fades with time: on the contrary, a parent’s death stays with you and shapes you for the rest of your life; it becomes a condition of your existence, like having blue eyes or black hair.” — […]
Hidden Loss
Although the baby never cried out, suckled at its mother’s breast, or slept in the newly decorated nursery, the child was a part of the parents as much as any child born into a family. Coping with the tragedy of the loss of an infant in pregnancy is not easy and many mothers say that […]
Dealing With Grief
How Do People Deal With Grief? People handle their grief in different ways. Some ways people can use to deal with grief: Find the right type of support for you Read books about grief Talk with a counselor Watch videos about grief Join a grief support group Go to a grief information session or workshop […]
Understanding The Concept Of “Reconciliation”
Although often difficult to talk about and harder to accept, death is a natural part of our lives. It is a stage of the cycle of life. As death is natural, so is grief. It’s a normal reaction to loss, not a disease or a condition. It is part of our human existence. Often mourners […]
The Value Of Self-Help Groups
Self-help groups bring people together who share a common experience or problem and provide a safe place where members can talk about their loss, share their story, and express their grief. Through the self-help process, they no longer feel alone or unique. They feel hopeful as they see how others have coped, and learn about […]
Twelve Freedoms of Healing
You have the freedom to realize your grief is unique You have the freedom to talk about your grief You have the freedom to expect to feel a multitude of emotions You have the freedom to allow for numbness You have the freedom to be tolerant of your physical and emotional limits You have the […]
Grief is…
Grief is the total feeling of disorientation. Grief is lying on the floor sobbing, when it has never happened to you in your life before. Grief is awaking at 5:00 in the morning with that old newsreel of your loved one death running around in your head. Grief is sitting in a group among friends […]
Steps To Survival
Recognize the Loss: For a while you are numb, it has happened – try not to avoid it. Be with the Pain: You’re hurting. Admit it. To feel pain after loss is normal, it is proof that you are alive and proof that you are able to respond. You are Not Alone: Loss is part […]
Grief, Anger & Guilt
We grieve according to the kind of relationship we had with the deceased, how open we were, the ideas we have of mortality, the inner strengths or weaknesses we have, or the kind of emotional support we get from those around us. It isn’t necessarily true that the happier we were with the beloved person, […]
Grief Is Like A Jigsaw Puzzle
Grief is not a smorgasbord where you go down the line picking a little of this and a little of that. Grief is like a jigsaw puzzle. Some people get all the edge pieces together first and work from the outside in. Others dump everything out on the table at once and jump right into […]