How to Manage Grief During the Holidays
The holidays are typically a time when friends and family gather together. But it is also a time for many people who have lost loved ones, where there is pain and sorrow. If you or a loved one have experienced loss around this time of the year, then this article was meant to find you. You might be feeling overwhelmed during this holiday season, but there are things that you can do to help make the season feel more bearable. Although the pain and the sadness you’re feeling may still be present, there are ways to ease some of your [...]
How to Navigate the Death of a Loved One
There is no template for how to deal with the death of a loved one. Coming to terms with this new reality can be painful and frightening, but it is possible to mourn your loved one while honoring their memory and caring for your own mental health. Don’t underestimate the power of a good cry Lean into your emotions, whatever they may be. The pain of grief has a way of washing over you before you realize what is happening. Allow yourself to feel - don’t push any positive or negative feelings down - and let it all out. Cry [...]
How to Handle Trauma
From family conflict to personal tragedy, the death of a loved one to the loss of a pet, trauma will affect us all. These events leave lasting impacts on mental and physical health and are often accompanied by feelings of grief and loss. The impact of trauma Anyone who has experienced a traumatic event understands that the effects of trauma don’t disappear overnight. You might be prone to encountering flashbacks or intrusive memories of the traumatic event or series of events. You also might have nightmares, involuntary anxiety and/or depression as a result of everything you’ve experienced. Many of these [...]
Ways to Handle Grief During the Holidays
For some people, the holidays bring a spike in renewed memories and grief regarding the loss of a loved one. During a season so focused on being around family and friends, those who cannot celebrate with everyone due to death may feel intense emotions and grief. How can I cope with grief during the holidays? If you have experienced the loss of a loved one, either recently or in years past, the holidays may be a difficult time to get through. If this is the case, there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Grief tends to come up when [...]
Healing from Loss As You Age
The death of a loved one is one of the most heart-wrenching experiences a person can live through. As we get older and our friends and family age and experience illness and injury, we experience loss more frequently and repeatedly. Experiencing the loss of a loved one as we age has different dimensions than a loss in our younger years, too. We may experience more sadness, depression, hopelessness, loneliness and fear. While death deserves proper respect and grieving is a natural response to the loss of a loved one, there are ways to manage the pain and find meaning after [...]
Navigating Familial Grief: Coping with the Death of a Parent
Even with advanced knowledge of impending death, there’s no way to prepare for the heavy emotions that follow the loss of a loved one, especially someone close to you. Even someone who is in an emotionally stable state will inevitably be shaken by the loss of a parent. If you’re wondering how to deal with a death in the family, there’s no perfect formula for healing. However, there are some common threads to coping with the death of a parent. In this article, we’ll share how you can bear through the stages of grief and manage the feelings that come [...]
How to Recover Following a Miscarriage
Miscarriages aren't often talked about, even though they are more common than you might expect. Between 10-20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, meaning a vast number of women suffer from the emotional and heartbreaking effects of miscarriage. While there used to be an attitude of encouraging mothers to move on and try again, this insensitive train of thought has received much criticism in the wake of the mothers' experiences. For many, miscarriage can be a traumatic situation causing both husband and wife to go through the stages of grief as they mourn the loss of their little one. The emotional [...]
Dealing with Death & Grief During Addiction Recovery
Entering recovery is a huge step on the path to creating a better life for yourself; however, just like any big change, it can present challenges. One such challenge includes suffering the loss of a family member or friend at the same time as recovering from addiction. Grieving the loss of a loved one can cause the steps you take during recovery to falter, or even regress. Many addictive behaviors are rooted in a desire to escape reality, and reality as brutal as death can trigger a relapse. However, there are important steps you can take, including diving even deeper [...]
