Just like no two relationships are exactly the same, no two people experience loss the same way. And that’s not only normal—it’s expected. Here are some reasons why…
4 Ways to Remember Dad on Father’s Day
If Father’s Day is a reminder of loss rather than a celebration, here are four things you could plan for June 16th.
Looking Back at Loss: The “Good” Side of Grief
Maybe we never get the answer for why they had to die, but we can create meaning out of our loss.
Meaning-Making After Loss
Meaning-making can take you from a place where all you see is the bad that comes from loss to a place where you can start to see the “good.”
Death Guilt: I Feel Like It’s My Fault
There are commonly two root thoughts for the guilt felt after someone dies:
Why didn’t I …?
I never…
Letting Toxic People Go
Suddenly the bad behavior you previously tolerated from a friend, significant-other, or family member becomes completely intolerable because you no longer have the energy to explain it away or keep up the illusion that it doesn’t bother you.
How Did They Die: Preparing for Questions After Loss
You have every right to say, “Thank you for your concern, but I’d rather not talk about it right now.” You also have the right to say you’re “fine” when some colleague you hardly know asks how you’re doing.
Four Tasks of Mourning
Grief theory can’t explain everything, but it may bring some insight you can relate to or otherwise shed some light on your grief experience.
Grief Theory: Dual Process Model
The key idea around the Dual Process Model is that we don’t go one way through grief—following stages or tasks in a sequence over time—but instead that we oscillate (or bounce back and forth) between being “loss-oriented” and “restoration-oriented.”
The Politics of Their “Stuff”
Dealing with their “stuff” is one of the hardest things to face in the wake of loss. It’s also a harsh confrontation with the unnecessity of these items given the complete absence of the person to whom they belonged.
Go First, Say Their Name
With your grief, you’ve got enough of a burden and you shouldn’t have to be strapped with the additional responsibility of making it easier for others to interact with you, but if you can go first and offer this bit of grace to your friends and family, it can easily pay dividends in conversation that acknowledges your loved-one and your loss.
The Grim Reaper in the Room
Why don’t people talk about death? Why is open talk of death, or trying to support someone experiencing a significant loss feel so awkward?
You’re Not “Going Crazy”
grief can definitely make you feel like you’re losing touch with the normal reality you knew, which can be incredibly disorienting.
Surviving the “Firsts” After Loss
Their birthday, holidays, vacations, anniversaries, social gathering, all these events can be a challenge to face for the first time without the person with whom you usually shared them. Here are five simple tools that will help you prepare for some of your “firsts.”
7 Tricky Grief Myths
Here’s a heads up on seven myths of grief you may have been told are true, that simply are not.
Crying In the Produce Aisle: Dealing with Attacks of Grief
Though it’s completely natural and healthy to cry, often times it can be embarrassing and frustrating. So here’s a quick dip into a mindfulness practice to help you regain a little control in those moments when you feel you’ve completely lost it.
“What’s Wrong With Me?” The Physical Effects of Grief
We all expect our emotions to be a mess when someone we love dies. What we often don’t expect are these common physical symptoms.
7 Tips for Making 2017 Your Own
Despite what some people may tell you, happiness, healing, and hope are not just things that happen with time, it does take some resolve. Your life is made up of the small decisions you make every day. Where you go, what you say, how you react, who you choose to be around, and what information … Continue reading 7 Tips for Making 2017 Your Own
Why Does Grief Make Me Cry?
We all know the feeling when we’re just about to cry. Emotion rises. Your shoulders pull up tight. A thick lump forms at the back of your throat. Breath becomes unsteady. Your chin trembles. You sniff as your nose starts to run. You fight it, but liquid starts to collect on your lower eyelid, blurring … Continue reading Why Does Grief Make Me Cry?
The 12 Days of Holiday Grief
Thank you for all your likes, shares, and comments! These tidbits of grief support definitely seem to have struck a common chord with many of you, and we hope they helped this year and in holidays to come. To make it easy for you to return to our holiday grief tips in one quick click I’m dropping all twelve right … Continue reading The 12 Days of Holiday Grief