In Grief: Supporting the Survivor of Suicide Loss ~ Helpful or Harmful?

A reader writes: Eight days ago my brother-in-law Joseph died by suicide, leaving behind my sister after almost 15 years together, and their 10 year old daughter. I’m here to support my sister and niece during this time, as are many of her friends and family. Everyone has been very forgiving and patient. Though we all grieve individually, my sister and her daughter are at the forefront of our minds. I’m writing you in the hopes that you can lend some practical advice. The situation we’re in may not be unique, but I have failed to find any help in guidebooks or any other resource thus far. 

Understanding and Managing Grief, February 2 - February 15, 2020

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream:

The celebrities we admire often function as blank screens that we project fantasies of ourselves on as heroes, saviors, or romantic figures. A grief educator explains why the death of a celebrity feels like a personal loss, and what we can do about it, https://j.mp/38nDZDe « Business Insider

To experience the richness of life once again, we need to grieve. Closure May Be a Myth, but Grief is a Necessity, https://j.mp/3bC3Edm « P.S. I Love You

Belleruth Naparstek of Health Journeys responds to an interesting question from Patty. ASK BR: Dealing with IBS & Fear of Dying, https://j.mp/2SkpXNb « YouTube

Voices of Experience: Winter Grief

Source

by David Whyte

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.  ~ Robert Frost

The grief of losing a loved one: the need to walk, to remember, to heal when you cannot heal; to remember what you do not wish to remember. The unconscious call for invisible help, and the not knowing consciously, how, in any way, to ask for it; the way everything refuses to console until we are ready for that consolation. The way winter turns to spring. ~ DW

In Grief: Coping with Father Loss

There is no expiration date on the love between a father and his child.
~ Jennifer Williamson

A reader writes: My dad passed away this past June, so I am looking for resources to help me on my journey. I found your website today, and it is wonderful! Thank you for all the hard work you put into it. I've signed up for one of your Discussion Groups and your Comfort for Grieving Hearts page is awesome. So I will be visiting often.

When Dad died, I lost my best friend. I was definitely a "Daddy's girl." He and I were so close. Since he died, I've been looking for books of comfort for daughters who have lost a father, but I haven't been able to find anything. I'm seeing a few things about fathers and sons and lots of things about mothers and daughters.....just not much for daughters. Can you help; are you aware of any titles? I'm journaling as I go along, so I thought I would try to write a book of meditations when I'm feeling better.

Understanding and Managing Grief, January 26 - February 1, 2020

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

". . . that’s not the story that really got me in this tragedy. What struck me was the seven others on board. Seven other indispensable, deeply-loved people. Seven other giants. The Seven Others, https://j.mp/2UiQQme « Snappshots

Even though we might not have met them, we still can become attached to them. When A Celebrity Dies, https://j.mp/2uE4yoM « Journeys

Grief is rarely black and white. You can both believe Bryant’s accuser and still be sad that he died. All thoughts and feelings are okay. Complicated Grief for Kobe Bryant, https://j.mp/2RA5jbB « Grief Compass

In Grief: Am I Feeling Sorry for Myself?

Image by cg_champion0 from Pixabay 

The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone.  ~ Mitch Albom

A reader writes: I would really appreciate your comments on my own particular kind of grief. Would it be appropriate to liken it to the death of a loved one or pet, when in actual fact they are still alive but you no longer see them for various reasons? After 2 years of depression, anxiety and wanting only to cry all the time, it came to me that perhaps the reason for my feelings was because the daughter I loved I no longer have visit me, various members of family became separated from me and I have no one to confide in.

Hospice, Grief, & Pet Loss, January 19 - January 25, 2020

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

This post is for you, Mamaw. Thank you for loving me so well, and for showing me that kindness can change the world. Echoes, https://j.mp/2RIeAgu « Bryan C. Taylor

Depression killed my innately joyful sister. When people ask how she died, this is how I respond. 'Was She Sick?' https://j.mp/30KWHSr « Modern Loss

Face this profound challenge by staying connected and finding friends who will listen. How Men Grieve, https://j.mp/36jY5wt « Next Avenue

Helping Elderly Parents with Pet Loss

Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.  ~ Agnes Sligh Turnbull

A reader writes: I was referred to your site in my search for grief counseling on the loss of a pet. I am an avid dog lover and was raised in a house with two parents who taught me the quality of being an animal lover. My question is if you might be able to offer some tips for dealing with my parents who recently and suddenly lost their pet dog. They are in their eighties and the dog was a big focus of their lives. Neither one of them is active outside of the home. My mom seems to be able to verbalize her emotions, but my dad is very upset, has stopped eating somewhat and does not want to see any company at all. Any advice as to what I can say?

Caregiving, Hospice, & Grief, January 12 - January 18, 2020

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Our stories often don't turn out the way we thought they would as we were writing them. If we can let go of the story we expected, sometimes we can find treasure in the story we have. Sometimes you get what you need. https://j.mp/2TAYTdo « Heart Callings

A cousin named her daughter after my mom before I could. Losing My 'Naming Rights', https://j.mp/2RqdS7g « Modern Loss

It's healthy and healing for someone to write about their own grief experience. But when they start "teaching" that these experiences are typical and apply to everyone across the board, they're crossing a dangerous line. Bad Bereavement Advice: When Trying to Help Doesn’t Help, https://j.mp/2QTkNaj « Afterlife Conference

Voices of Experience: These Words

These Words (Shelly Album)

For a songwriter, you don’t really go to songwriting school; you learn by listening to tunes. And you try to understand them and take them apart and see what they’re made of, and wonder if you can make one, too. ~ Tom Waits

Greg Walker is a musician and a writer who met his friend Shelly on Twitter: a poet who happens to have muscular dystrophy. They became fast friends and together were able to make an album of songs. By sharing below the story behind the songs, along with a link to the album, Greg hopes to encourage creativity, honesty, friendship, and the power of story telling in those who might read and listen. It also gives Greg and his friend Shelly the opportunity to touch hearts and souls of readers and listeners with their work.