In Grief: Coming to Terms with Blindness

Image by Anemone123 from Pixabay 

[Reviewed and updated December 7, 2021]

To be blind is not miserable; not to be able to bear blindness, that is miserable.  ~ John Milton

A reader writes: I am searching for some advice on how to help my wife come to terms with the loss of her vision. She was a student of language and literature and a painter. Now she is blind from a disease at the age of 32. We have two remarkable children ages 11 and 12. She is isolating herself more and more. The vibrant woman I have been married to for over 13 years is afraid to go outside or answer the door.

Caregiving & Grief, September 22 - September 28, 2019

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

Spousal caregivers are largely fending for themselves, according to a new study published in the June issue of Health Affairs. Spousal Caregivers Are a Lonely Bunch, https://j.mp/2mJL0M1 « Seven Ponds Blog

Written after the death of her son, Denise Riley’s Time Lived, Without Its Flow finds radical and consoling ways to understand bereavement. Max Porter on the book everyone should read about grief: 'I felt changed',  https://j.mp/2mkG7ZL « The Guardian

Grief after non-death losses—like the voluntary “laying down” of one’s career—are often disenfranchised in our society. Today, I Chose Loss, https://j.mp/2lFmXgR « Grief Perspectives

Teen Grief: "People Criticize The Way I Grieve"

[Reviewed and updated July 3, 2021]

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.  ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

A reader writes: I'm 16 years old. My father died of cancer last week. We were extremely close, and at first I was handling his death very well. Now, as time goes by, I am beginning to miss him so much I can barely perform the everyday tasks without hurting. People criticize the way I grieve. I feel as if nobody could possibly understand the way I feel in the loss of my father. I am very young, and people keep telling me to be strong. Yet, when I am "strong," people question why I'm not grieving. A very dear friend of mine referred your website to me, and I thought that perhaps you could offer some advice to me on a more personal level.

Caregiving, Grief & Pet Loss, September 15 - September 21, 2019

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

A number of resources focusing on various types of trauma, separated into broad categories,: Coping with Traumatic Loss: Suggested Resources https://bit.ly/2FUyZZw « Grief Healing

Mom Needs Hospice? Here are your questions to choose the right one... https://j.mp/2NnPZOg « BK Books

Misplaed your car keys? Keep losing your train of thought mid-sentence? As disorienting as these experiences may be, such forgetfulness in grief is normal.  64 Tips for Coping With Forgetfulness in Grief, https://j.mp/2V1Xawt « What's Your Grief?

Pet Loss: Keepsake Yarn Spun From Pet Hair

Source

[Reviewed and updated October 17, 2020]

Not everything worth keeping has to be useful.  ~ Cynthia Lord

A reader writes: Please tell me I'm not crazy. I have a jar full of whiskers my cats have shed, of all my babies over the years. I swear, if I could only take one thing out of my house and had to give everything else away, it would be the fur and whiskers from my cats.

Caregiving & Grief Tweets, September 8 - September 14, 2019

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:
 
5 Myths about Grief You May Believe, https://j.mp/2NfrYJ3 « Psychology Today

The NIH just appointed a dentist and a biologist to lead the NINR (National Institute of Nursing Research). Non-nurses aren't qualified to evaluate grants for nursing research! Please join in asking the NIH to recall these two appointments and appoint nurses now, https://j.mp/2UQ6CDe « The Truth About Nursing

Chasing My Cure: A Doctor's Race to Turn Hope into Action: After nearly dying five times, a young doctor learned to treat himself, https://bit.ly/2UQLrko « STAT

Voices of Experience: Why Are We So Afraid to Cry?

By Sarah Neustadter, PhD

Tearless grief bleeds inwardly.  ~ Christian Nevell Bovee

“They” say “the only way out is through.” And it’s fucking annoying and cliché. But it’s true. The grieving is a crazy journey. Madness. Insanity. Never-ending, in some ways. But it is also transformative, if you allow it and shape it. Your shell’s been cracked open and something new is emerging. If you go in there and live it, experience it like your life depends on it (and it does), I guarantee that when you pop out the other side of it, you will be different. You will feel things in new ways and experience life from a perspective you never thought possible. You might not want to hear it, you might not see it or believe it, and you certainly don’t want it, but I invite you to feel it as fully as you can. Your power is in there. Claim it. Get what’s yours.

Caregiving & Grief Tweets, September 1 - September 7, 2019

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

Aid in Dying: A Podcast with Lewis Cohen https://j.mp/2ZFyiAh « GeriPal

Facing Loss: When Hope and Grief Co-Exist, https://j.mp/2HO4OFv « What's Your Grief?

A thank you from doctors to nurses, https://j.mp/2HNPzMM « Kevin MD

In Grief: Teen's Driving Results in CADI (Causing Accidental Death or Injury to Another)

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 

A reader writes: Two weeks ago my nephew was involved in a terrible auto accident. He was driving at night during a heavy thunderstorm when one of his rear tires blew out. He lost control of his car, skidded off the highway and ended up hitting a tree. His girlfriend was in the passenger seat and did not survive the accident. My nephew is only 17 years old and is not handling this well at all. I am worried about him and don’t know what I can do to help. 

Caregiving, Grief & Pet Loss Tweets, August 25 - August 31, 2019

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

Times Like These, I Wish You Were Here, http://j.mp/2HCBrWt « What's Your Grief?

The Grief of an Overdose Death — and How You Can Support Someone Grieving a Substance Use Loss, https://j.mp/32dvIhN « Center on Addiction

Managing Grief in the Workplace, https://j.mp/32lxPQR « Thrive Global