Grief Support

Grief and heartbreak: the two are inseparable. Right now, following the death of your loved one, it feels as if your heart is – to one degree or another – broken. There are times when the heartache is unbearable and other times when you don’t even think you can get out of bed. Learn what can you do to help yourself heal.

What is grief? Basically, it’s our reaction to loss of any kind: the loss of a job, a divorce, the ending of a friendship, and of course, the death of someone dear to us. When describing “grief”, perhaps the American Institute of Stress said it best: “Grief is intense and multifaceted, effecting our emotions, or bodies and our lives".

Surviving the death of a loved one involves finding meaning in the suffering of bereavement. It’s in this “suffering” (a natural and essential part of the grief process) you’ll ultimately find reasons to move forward with your life. It’s through “grief work” that healing and personal transformation occur.

We’re sure you’ve heard this quote from the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: “That which does not kill us makes us stronger”. Over the years, many grieving individuals have found the truth within his words: while it sometimes feels as if you’ll die from the emotional, psychological and physical effects of grief, there is the potential for self-growth within the experience of bereavement. Here we look at the relationship between grieving and the development of greater resilience.

If you’ve recently experienced the death of a loved one, we suggest you surround yourself with

supportive friends and family members. But when that’s not possible, you can fill your mind with the supportive, insightful quotations and affirmations of folks you don’t know, and will probably never meet.

If you’ve recently experienced the passing of a beloved family member, friend, or animal companion; you’re well aware of the power grief has over your “quality of life”. In truth, nothing is more devastating to our physical well-being and psychological and emotional equilibrium than the death of a loved one.

When a close friend loses a loved one, many people want to be their to offer support during this difficult time. Assisting with the funeral arrangements is one such way that people try to help their friends who are mourning a loss. By doing so, their friend is able to focus on directing their energy towards mourning and comforting other family members.