Understanding and Managing Grief, September 29 - October 5, 2024

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month  

Best selections from Grief Healing's X feed this week:

In these turbulent times, families have suffered devastating losses of loved ones, from the anguish of COVID-related deaths to gun violence, drug overdose, suicide, environmental disasters, and war. More attention is urgently needed in marriage and family therapy training and practice to help the bereaved heal and forge pathways to live and love fully beyond loss. Loss, Grief, and Resilience « Psychology Today

Understanding and Managing Grief, December 12 - December 18, 2021

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

Pets become close members of our families. When they are gone, the grief of their passing can be immense. Here's how to show up for someone going through this loss. What Not To Say To People Grieving A Sick, Lost Or Dead Pet « HuffPost Life 

The latest installment of Sex and the City has unleashed a mini-controversy — but for some, the drama has the power to stir up painful real-life memories.  Spoiler alert: Grief is never over 'Just Like That' « The Hill

When Attending A Funeral Triggers Grief

Find the latest version of this post here:

In Grief: Saying The Wrong Thing at A Funeral

A reader writes: I don't know why I'm so unable to say the right thing at the right time but for some reason I just seem to put my foot into my mouth and make so many ridiculous comments. I decided to go to a funeral of a person I was acquainted with through a church activity group. She died last Sunday and her funeral was yesterday. All I could do was think about my mom and I was crying for the loss of my mom more so than I was crying for the loss of this friend. I felt sadness for her family and could see they were going through the same things that I did when my mom died three months ago.

In Grief: Dreading The Second Anniversary of A Child’s Death

When fear makes your choices for you, no security measures on earth will keep the things you dread from finding you. But if you can avoid avoidance - if you can choose to embrace experiences out of passion, enthusiasm, and a readiness to feel whatever arises - then nothing, nothing in all this dangerous world, can keep you from being safe.  ~ Martha Beck

A reader writes: I've written to you before, but now the countdown has begun.  In two more weeks it will have been two years since my son lost his life in a horrible accident. I have been waking in these early hours with nightmares -- my son is all broken and I cannot fix him -- my throat is dry from screaming and the sweat is cold -- I am not sure I can keep doing this anymore. I have so many crazy thoughts of jumping on a train track and seeing how long it takes for me to die.

Understanding and Managing Grief: December 9 - December 15, 2018

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

Five things you need to know about your life after loss, http://j.mp/2LgPn9i « Second Firsts

Widowed and Scary~ http://j.mp/2LhN5Xi « Soaring Spirits International

Grief Doesn't Take a Holiday, http://j.mp/2Le4YXa « Widower's Grief

Understanding and Managing Grief, April 8 - April 14, 2018

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

After the Funeral, There's the Quiet, http://j.mp/2HwpO25 « Widower's Grief

On sudden upsurges of grief: Riptide, http://j.mp/2GYpOqK « Bryan C. Taylor

Picking a Fight with God: The Positives of Anger, http://j.mp/2HwjlEo « Crossroads Hospice and Palliative Care

Understanding and Managing Grief, November 13 - November 19, 2016

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

The Many Paths of Grief: 8 Tips From Survivors of Loss, http://huff.to/2g2hgD0 « The Huffington Post

In Grief: The Healing Language Of Touch, http://huff.to/2fAiYgj « The Huffington Post

The People Who Can't Stop Grieving, http://di.gg/2fhvlut « Digg

Voices of Experience: The Trouble With Triggers

Source

by Harry Proudfoot, Walking with Jane

One of my most painful, hurtful, appalling experiences occurred the first time I went to the grocery store after Robby died . . . Every shelf, every aisle reminded me of my dead son. Either the item was something he hated or something he loved. Green beans and hot dogs and peanut butter sent stabs of pain through me.
~ Harriet Sarnoff Schiff

I finished redoing the living room today. Six weeks ago, I ordered two love seats to replace the couch and love seat Jane and I bought when we built this house just over twenty years ago. I’d finally figured out that even with new slipcovers, those two pieces set me off every time I entered the room.

In the process of getting everything in the room balanced—I’ve never studied feng shui, but I know when things are arranged right I feel better than when they aren’t—I decided to remove the next level of knick-knacks that I have kept out as reminders of the couple we were. Fifty-five months and 15 days is long enough to keep the two doll-sized mugs embossed with "My Sweetheart” out where they can remind me every day of what I’ve lost.

Understanding and Managing Grief, February 15 - February 21, 2015

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

The Art of Grieving, http://j.mp/1qDNYXP « Peace Through Grief

A Response to the Online Flurry About "Complicated Grief," http://j.mp/1MI2MCv « Personal Growth and Grief Support Center

5 Ideas for Facing Deathiversaries, http://j.mp/1F9Z8eO « Modern Loss

Understanding and Managing Grief, January 11 - January 17, 2015

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

Cancer Loss: When Everything, Including Sympathy, Hurts, http://j.mp/1BkdSd2 « Inquisitr

Grief In The Classroom: 'Saying Nothing Says A Lot,' http://j.mp/1AsuR7y « NPR Ed

Important! Grief After Abortion, http://j.mp/1zo5c4A « What's Your Grief?

Understanding and Managing Grief, August 3 - August 9, 2014

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

Tips for Coping with Traumatic Loss, http://j.mp/1yfjgYD « Open to Hope

Continuing Bonds: A Journal Exercise, http://j.mp/1nBePRY « What's Your Grief?

Review: Coloring Book for Child Coping with Death, http://j.mp/1yddlDs « Seven Ponds Blog