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Grief and Loss Articles
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- Sympathy For A Young Widow - by Submitted on Nov 11, 2009 from Pam BrownSympathy for the Younger Widow Sometimes the unexpected happens. The young wife or husband loses their spouse before their life even had time to get started. This is one of those times where you must be extra careful of what you say. While you may have mixed feelings yourself, you should ...
Views: 3727(2 votes) - How to Respond to Tragedy - by Submitted on Aug 14, 2009 from James KrehbielRabbi Harold Kushner, the author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People, wrote about his response to personal tragedy. His son Aaron had premature aging, and eventually died from this disease. The pain from the Rabbi’s loss provoked a crisis of faith. Kushner wrote his book for those "who ...
Views: 3725(2 votes) - I Lost My Best Friend To Breast Cancer - by Submitted on Oct 29, 2012 from Nathan DanielsI know I'm not alone in the fact that I've lost someone very special to breast cancer, and I'm sure I'm not alone in the fact that it still hurts after nearly twenty years. My mom passed away in 1993, a victim of this horrible disease, and getting over her death has taken most of my adult life. ...
Views: 3713(1 vote) - The Five Stages Of Grief - What Are They? - by Submitted on Jun 06, 2008 from Lucie StorrsIf you have lost a loved one, or if someone you know is grieving, you might find yourself wondering ‘What are these five stages of grief I keep hearing about?’ and how they relate to you. Let me explain a little more about the five stages. Author Elisabeth Kübler-Ross – a much respected grief ...
Views: 3670 - Overcoming Grief - How To Bounce Back From Tragic Situations - by Submitted on Nov 26, 2009 from Mark FooAt one point or another, tragedy will affect our lives. At the time that it happens, you will think that the bad feeling will never go away, but there are certain things that can be done to help you move forward and resume your life. You need to acknowledge and accept that the unfortunate ...
Views: 3647(5 votes) - For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday... - by Submitted on Sep 23, 2011 from Ellen WhitehurstWhere were you when on that terrible day? Until ten years ago, during my lifetime at least, that question almost always pertained to the day the shots rang out and killed Kennedy; his presidency the seeming symbol of refreshed and restored hope to a nation that had been bruised, bloodied and ...
Views: 3636(1 vote) - Grief Recovery Ideas - by Submitted on Mar 15, 2007 from Cheryline LawsonRecovering from grief has no set order or method. It all depends on the individual person, what type of grief (how their loved one died), their social and cultural background and their emotional stability at the time of the death of their loved one. Here are twenty practical ideas of recovery ...
Views: 3562 - Dealing with Grief Using Hypnotherapy - by Submitted on Aug 27, 2009 from Rosa LivingstoneThe death of a loved one is always a devastating experience, and no one can be expected to come to terms with it quickly. With our aging population, many Baby Boomers are now caring for aging parents who pass away in their care. Grieving is a natural process that allows us gradually to take in ...
Views: 3554(3 votes) - Letting Your Pets Go: Euthanasia & Why It Makes This Time Easier - by Submitted on Jul 03, 2008 from brian spilnerThere comes a time when we must let go of our pets. There are many reasons why our beloved companions must be euthanized, but knowing the reason doesn’t always help with the grief. Before you go to the veterinarian to have your animal put to sleep, it’s a good idea to have an ...
Views: 3547 - 9 Symptoms of Bereavement Stress - by Submitted on May 14, 2009 from Margo BastosLack of Sleep or Interrupted Sleep You lie awake for hours and are not able to fall asleep OR you wake up regularly during the night. Maybe you wake up in the early hours of the morning and are not able to go back to sleep. This leaves you feeling tired and listless for the rest of the ...
Views: 3522 - How to Deal with Your Anger When Mourning - by Submitted on Feb 24, 2009 from Louis LaGrandIs the anger over the way your loved one was treated by the medical community eating you up? Or, are you angry at those who should have helped you in the last days of your loved one’s life, but were nowhere to be found? How can you reduce the intensity of your anger and then let it go? There are ...
Views: 3511 - Empathy 101: How to Talk to Your Upset Friend - by Submitted on May 28, 2007 from Jennifer BrostThe trauma resulting from my near death, passing of my mother-in-law, mother, father, and unborn son was a real strain on our marriage. Michael and I had married just 6 months before the losses began, and I felt robbed of a normal honeymoon period. Making matters worse was our drastically ...
Views: 3478 - Grief and the Myth of Closure - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2010 from Ashley Davis BushWhen faced with grief we often ask, “When will I begin to feel better? When will I return to normal? When will I be able to breathe again? When will I achieve some closure?” The idea of closure in our culture is one of tidy endings, a sense of completion. The reason we long for closure, of ...
Views: 3467 - Grief is a Journey Not a Destination - by Submitted on Oct 22, 2013 from Robert CrutchfieldWhen someone close to us dies many companies will give you a few days off with pay to recover. Much of the rest of our society seems to believe that grief is something very temporary. If only it were that simple or easy. Grief is not about forgetting or “ getting over it. “ It is about learning ...
Views: 3441 - Lavender and Grief - by Submitted on Jul 09, 2009 from Katherine EpsteinThis week has been full of surprising passages -- Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson and several others who are loved and revered by millions. Both those close to these individuals and people all around the world mourn. Flowers can help us in many ways to let go of grief and shift to feeling ...
Views: 3426(1 vote) - What is Soul Pain - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2011 from Dr. Jane SimingtonDefining Soul Pain I am often asked to define soul pain. While it is not an easy thing to define, I have come to acknowledge that soul pain is the sum total of the physical, mental, emotional and social distress experienced following a tragic life event. And yet, it is more than that. It is ...
Views: 3415(1 vote) - ***Anniversary Reactions; a Part of the Grieving Process - by Submitted on Jun 06, 2012 from Karen Mehringer, MAAt a distance we noticed a hawk flying. In the next moment, it headed straight towards us and circled over head. Smiling, I knew that Kyle was with us as we celebrated the 13-year anniversary of his death. We made a ritual of hiking to his tree, a small oak ling; we planted in his honor, a year ...
Views: 3414(1 vote) - How To Cope With Unavoidable Suffering - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2007 from Louis LaGrandUnavoidable suffering is a condition of existence, a part of the mystery that shrouds every life. It is usually the result of broken attachments to those we love or the loss of something cherished. It cannot be prevented because death and perpetual change are uncontrollable givens of living. On ...
Views: 3402 - Funeral Poems To Remember Our Departed Loved Ones - by Submitted on Sep 23, 2010 from Menno SpijkstraMost people are concerned regarding the destiny or fate of their departed loved one. Oftentimes, fear and apprehension arise regarding what will happen after death and what might happen to our dear loved ones. Is he safe---or is she happy at last? Will we ever see or meet or be with each other ...
Views: 3390 - The Practicalities of Coping with A Suicide - by Submitted on Jul 21, 2007 from Lucie StorrsYour tears have not yet dried. You haven't had time to experience your deep feelings about your loved one's suicide. In many ways, you're still in shock. Nevertheless, death, like anything else, has its own practicalities that must be accomplished. You, your family members and your loved one's ...
Views: 3390 - What it Means to Grieve a Loss - by Submitted on May 19, 2010 from Mary Jane Hurley BrantWhen you open yourself up to love, you open yourself up to loss. When you suffer a loss, you will experience the painful emotion we call grief. It's a natural response to loss yet to the person going through this afflictive emotion, the experience feels overwhelming. I would like to help you ...
Views: 3362(3 votes) - Coping Strategies for Depression - by Submitted on May 05, 2012 from Rosemary PriceCoping strategies for depression.. Even the most positive and pro active person can find it is very difficult to climb past the problems and feelings that come with suffering from depression. There are all sorts of things to think of. Not just how you feel, but how others see you and how it ...
Views: 3295(1 vote) - Motherless Daughters Healing The Pain - by Submitted on May 28, 2011 from Gail OKeeffeThere is nothing like Mother's Day to remind you of just how much you have lost and how painful that loss is if you are estranged from your mother due to abandonment (disclosing your abuse, mental illness, drug abuse, physical or emotional abuse etc) or loss. When I disclosed my abuse to my ...
Views: 3278(2 votes) - Ways to Survive the Horrors of Grief During Halloween & Other Holidays - by Submitted on Oct 28, 2010 from Gemini AdamsGuy Fawks night is the British equivalent of the 4th July—well almost. Fireworks certainly spill into the night skies above every town in the country. Held on the 5th November its usually a chilly night with spectators wrapped up in hats, scarves, gloves and coats, grateful for the raging ...
Views: 3267(1 vote) - Grief And The Holidays - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2003 from Dave ShieldsThe holidays bring grief to an all new height for those who are suffering from losses or struggle with depression, anxiety, chronic illness or other such disorders. This newsletter is for those who suffer and for those who love them. If it's a merry Christmas for you, please take a moment ...
Views: 3234(1 vote) - Our Passed Loved Ones Send Us Messages - by Submitted on Jul 02, 2010 from Mary SolielDid you know that we can, and probably are, receiving messages from our passed loved ones? After Death Communications, or ADCs, are various types of communications relayed from relatives and friends that have departed this life. These ADCs serve as ways to show us, truly prove to us, that the ...
Views: 3229(1 vote) - Some 57 Years Later, Emmett Till Story Still Being Told; Civil Rights History in Mississippi - by Submitted on Jun 15, 2012 from Susan KlopferWHY ARE WE STILL talking about the murder of 14-year-old Emmett TilL some 50-plus years postmortem? I blogged on the topic last August upon the 56th anniversary of this young African American boy’s brutal death back in 1955. Now his name is frequently appearing as national and international ...
Views: 3222(1 vote) - Birthparent Loss and Grief - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2003 from Patricia RolesIn the last decade, there has been a growing acceptance that a loss occurs for birth parents when adoption takes place. In the past, the emphasis in the adoption process has largely been on the reception of the child into the adoptive family rather than the reciprocal loss of the baby for the ...
Views: 3155(1 vote) - Heal Grief and Sadness Naturally: Three Powerful and Practical Strategies - by Submitted on Sep 06, 2008 from Kay HutchinsonWe all face tragedies in our lives, evoking grief, sadness and despair. This is a natural part of life. How we nurture ourselves and process feelings greatly impacts our physical and mental wellness. These three strategies can help you find balance during moments of loss or grief. (1) Support ...
Views: 3127(2 votes) - How to Surrender to Grief - by Submitted on May 27, 2009 from Louis LaGrand“What you resist persists” is an old psychological saying that is especially applicable to anyone when mourning the death of a loved one. In other words, trying to repress feelings, “be strong” or pretend you are doing well when you are not, will guarantee that pain will spill out in unexpected ...
Views: 3088 - Rachel Getting Married - by Submitted on Jun 18, 2009 from Cindy KludtI have touched on the complexities of grief issues before, but the movie "Rachel Getting Married" shows it so well. For those of you who have not seen the movie, I will give a short synopsis. Kym is a twenty plus woman who is leaving her rehab residential care unit to come home for her ...
Views: 3009 - The Opportunity in Adversity - by Submitted on Mar 04, 2010 from Mike PniewskiMany of us recently saw when Brett Favre, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, played one of the greatest games of his career the Monday night after his father passed away. On the heels of one of the greatest tragedies anyone could face, he responded by playing an incredible game and leading ...
Views: 2963(1 vote) - ***The Pain of Grief - by Submitted on Mar 26, 2009 from John AOVYou have lost someone very dear. Your heart is aching. In fact, it may feel like your heart is breaking. These painful emotional feelings often manifest as the physical sensation of tightness and heaviness in the area of your heart. Your shoulders may also ache. They may pull forward as if ...
Views: 2933 - 16 Ways to Get Through Tough Times - by Submitted on Mar 18, 2012 from Nicole NenningerEveryone has times during their lives that are challenging. Illness, the loss of a job, death, divorce, a relationship break-up, parental alienation, and other life-changing events serve to push us over the edge if we aren’t careful. While we may not have control over some of our ...
Views: 2916(4 votes) - Unexpected Changes? What To Do In The Meantime - by Submitted on Oct 13, 2009 from Kimberley CohenChanges occur every day in our personal and professional lives. They can be through the death or illness of a loved one, pet, or friend. They can happen in our jobs, relationships, health, finances, where we live, in our communities, or in the world. Sometimes we have control over the ...
Views: 2889(1 vote) - Grief Can Undermine Your Health - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2009 from Judith AlbrightLosing a family member, dear friend or a cherished pet is one of life’s most painful experiences. When we lose a loved one there is actually a double loss. Not only do we lose that person’s physical presence, we lose the potential for what might have been. The loss of physical presence can ...
Views: 2865 - Life After Suicide - by Submitted on May 23, 2012 from Teal ScottWhy? This is a question which anyone whose life is touched by suicide will find themselves asking. Why would anyone willingly cause his or her own death? The answer to this question is simple but the grief experienced by anyone who is dealing with suicide is anything but simple. Suicide is a ...
Views: 2859(2 votes) - ***Tools for Transforming Depression - by Submitted on Apr 26, 2012 from Karen Mehringer, MAIf you find yourself feeling unmotivated, lacking energy for life, grumpy or irritable, you may be depressed. Depression is typically caused by suppressed anger, at the root of which is the feeling of powerlessness. When we give our power away, our creative life force energy becomes stifled and ...
Views: 2802(3 votes) - Do You Have Permission To Grieve Well? - by Submitted on Jan 10, 2010 from Peter GerlachThough mourning the many losses (broken bonds) across our years is a natural (instinctive) reflex, it can be slowed or blocked. Incomplete or "complicated" grief can promote serious mental, emotional, physical, and relationship problems. Our feelgood, warp-speed society ("Don't Worry - Be ...
Views: 2802 - Inexplicably, Predictably Happy - by Submitted on Oct 26, 2012 from Amy TorresRecently a phrase popped into my head, "Inexplicably predictably happy." That's one way I experience God--words come to me and I can tell they are not mine (some people call this "channeling"). I was actually grieving at the time I "heard" those words, but even though I was grieving, I ...
Views: 2802(1 vote) - Why Should I Give a Eulogy? - by Submitted on May 07, 2012 from Bernice McLarenMost of us dread public speaking – even presenting eulogies. Although eulogy audiences are more sympathetic and understanding than most, it is still public speaking, with challenges. The period following the death of a loved one is a trying time. You are likely experiencing grief and perhaps ...
Views: 2802(1 vote) - “My spouse wants a divorce and there's nothing I can do about it...” - by Submitted on Sep 14, 2010 from Susie and Otto CollinsLindsay feels as if she's trapped in a nightmare. She was well aware that her marriage to Sam has been rocky over the past year or two, but she always believed that the two of them would eventually work out their problems. She was completely unprepared when Sam came home from work a few ...
Views: 2789(1 vote) - Excert from Journey to the Sacred:Mending a Fractured Soul by Dr. Jane A. Simington PhD. Grief and Truama Specialist - by Submitted on Jan 28, 2011 from Dr. Jane SimingtonIntroduction At some point in life, each of us struggles in our attempt to make sense of the circumstances surrounding a difficult life experience. The catastrophic event may be situational, such as the loss of a job, the loss of a loved one to death, the loss of a body part, or the loss of ...
Views: 2766(1 vote) - Memorial Gardens Are Divine - by Submitted on Feb 25, 2009 from SelfGrowth.com ArticlesIt all started out as a birthday gift for my wife, Bobbie. I bought her a beautiful, painted, concrete bear. It looked so real, and it was the size of a real bear. She loved it. I placed the bear in the center of a circular-shaped flower bed I had landscaped near our house. Then I added a ...
Views: 2764 - Death & Our Journey Towrd It - by Submitted on Jun 25, 2012 from John AllanLiving a spiritual life while maintaining a regular meditative (reflective) attitude toward life, death, and dying is important to our ultimate death. Socrates said “the unexamined life is not worth living” and if death is a part of life, the final stage or the stage in between, then “an ...
Views: 2755 - Are You A Hero? - by Submitted on Mar 24, 2010 from Mary Jane Hurley BrantSome say we don't have anymore heroes but I say we do. Let's take a look at what a hero is and decide if you are one. A hero travels the hero's journey. That's when regular people such as you or me are asked to leave our routine life because something serious has occurred and we are asked ...
Views: 2754(4 votes) - Leave A Legacy Of No Regrets - by Submitted on May 08, 2012 from Dora CarpenterDuring my ten years of assisting families with making burial arrangements, I listened to countless expressions of regret by loved ones on behalf of the deceased. “I regret that he didn’t, she didn’t, I didn’t, we didn’t, or they didn’t.” This remorse that the deceased didn’t get a chance to ...
Views: 2749(3 votes) - Motherless Daughter's Day - by Submitted on May 24, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsEvery year, since l996, women who have lost their mothers gather to honor their Mother’s memory and to support each other through the difficult Mother’s Day weekend. When your Mom is dead there is nothing like Mother’s Day to remind you of just how much you have lost and how painful that loss ...
Views: 2719 - Sweet Memories - by Submitted on Nov 13, 2011 from Tele OpakunleNineteen years ago, I lost my younger sister. It was sudden and tragic. The pain was much, the wound was very ghastly. My heart bled for the loss of a sister, confidante and friend. I thought I would never be able to laugh again. In fact, I lost hope in everything. Then, memories of good times ...
Views: 2713(1 vote) - What is a Eulogy? - by Submitted on Jan 16, 2012 from Bernice McLarenA eulogy is a farewell or memorial speech that gives high praise to a recently deceased person. Spoken publicly at a church, funeral home or even private residence, and sometimes in conjunction with a service, the speech honors, commemorates and even celebrates the deceased's life. Although ...
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