In Grief: When A Friend Pulls Away

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When A Grieving Friend Refuses Offers of Support

A reader writes: I am hoping you can advise me what to do. I have a very dear and close friend whose brother died of suicide a month ago. This was his only sibling. He had to go identify the body and had to come home to a hysterical wife and barely functioning parents. As far as I know he has cried very little if at all. He and I haven't been able to discuss anything at all. My husband and I did everything we could to help the family with things. The problem is now though he will not call anymore and he has pulled away emotionally. He is saying things to me that I would say are hurtful. I have been trying to keep in touch with him, but now he says we are not compatible. I really want to help him through this very tough time. Do I step back and give him space or what do I do??? I am hoping you can give me some guidance. Thank you.

Caregiving and Hospice, September 17 - September 23, 2017

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

How to Use Death Insurance to Trick Death, http://j.mp/2hoJYlN « Open to Hope

YouTube Series "Molly's Movement" Shows What Coping with Dementia Looks Like, http://j.mp/2hp8QGp « Seven Ponds Blog

One Last Visit to See My Patient, http://j.mp/2hml0zO « The New York Times

Understanding and Managing Grief, September 17 - September 23, 2017

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

Helping Others to Help Yourself, http://j.mp/2hn3gI4 « Grieve Well

5 Ways Grieving Kids Changed My Own Relationship with Loss, http://j.mp/2hlPju5 « Modern Loss

How to Cope with Anticipatory Grief and Ambiguous Loss, http://j.mp/2hlNjhy « Next Avenue

Voices of Experience: Always

Stand Up Album - Christina Holmes

When you're happy, you enjoy the music. But, when you're sad, you understand the lyrics.  ~ Frank Ocean

Christina Holmes is a singer, songwriter, musician and producer who has recently released her sophomore album, Stand Up, under her label, Cove House Records. The original soundtrack contains ten new songs written by Christina, and her album serves as a call for social justice and change. She has been creating her own music for years, but when her father succumbed to kidney disease and died of kidney failure, she took two years of finding her way through grief before she felt able to show her musical soul again.

Caregiving and Hospice, September 10 - September 16, 2017

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

Staying Calm in a Hurricane - Guided Imagery Do's and Don'ts, http://j.mp/2xnlXRX « Health Journeys

Art from the Heart - the role of art therapy in palliative care, http://j.mp/2flbi0s « Alberta Hospice Palliative Care Association

Beautiful: Seventysomething: When it's time to stop fixing life's holes, http://j.mp/2eRMJY5 « PBS NewsHour

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Understanding and Managing Grief, September 10 - September 16, 2017

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

Yes, You Can Measure Grief And Here’s How, http://j.mp/2h9xnT9 « Grieve Well

Remembering the 'Lasts,' http://j.mp/2eZW8wV « Open to Hope

I Can't Live Without You, http://j.mp/2eZSGSZ « Mourning Coffee for the Mourning Soul

Coping with Pet Loss, September 10 - September 16, 2017

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

What does pet care have to do with human hospice? http://j.mp/2fk7GeT « Healthy Waterloo Region

Pet Euthanasia: When Is It Time to Say Goodbye? http://j.mp/2xgDUBI « Grief Healing

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Pet Euthanasia: When Is It Time to Say Goodbye?

[Reviewed and updated November 15, 2021]

Deep down we somehow always knew this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead — young and whole once more. ~ Crystal Ward Kent

A reader writes: Can I ask for your advice? I’m sure the answer lies within me, not you, but maybe you can help.

Caregiving and Hospice, September 3 - September 9, 2017

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

Guided Imagery Now On An "Approved for Use" List at the VHA, http://j.mp/2eLTrih « Health Journeys

Brilliant: Honor the person and the work with "The Pause," http://j.mp/2eKAk8d « Jonathan Bartels on Vimeo

How Can Palliative Care Improve Quality of Life? http://j.mp/2w3MKOJ « Seven Ponds Blog

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Understanding and Managing Grief, September 3 - September 9, 2017

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

Are you grieving "for" a not so nice person? See "What's In A Preposition? A Grammar for Grieving," http://j.mp/2xcgwFv « Offbeat Compassion

Finding Hope Again, http://j.mp/2eMkcDo « The Grief Toolbox

Romance May Not Be the Answer after Loss, http://j.mp/2eM81Xi « Second Firsts

Coping with Pet Loss, September 3 - September 9, 2017

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

Sunday, September 10 is National Pet Memorial Day, http://j.mp/1649Pjw « Grief Healing

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

In Grief: When Counseling Isn’t Helping

[Reviewed and updated December 31, 2023]

If there is no struggle, there is no progress.  ~ Frederick Douglas

A reader writes: Well it seems I am not doing any better now since both my parents have died. And I have no doubt that this is hurting me more than anyone else in the family. My Mom and I lived together and she knew me better than all of them and I knew her better than all of them. The only person in my family that probably knew my Mom as well as I did was my Dad.

But anyway, I just can't make any progress and feel I am in an endless pit of grief, mourning, sorrow, and despair. Tonight I asked God to just take me. I don't want to be here anymore. I am sick of it and sick of it ALL!

Caregiving and Hospice, August 27 - September 2, 2017

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

Palliative Care Can Support You At Diagnosis, http://j.mp/2vQIa6m « Get Palliative Care

Stop telling people they're fighters who will 'beat' terminal illness, http://j.mp/2wD8LIL « USA Today

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Understanding and Managing Grief, August 27 - September 2, 2017

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

Grieving May Be Lonely (But it Doesn't Have to Be), http://j.mp/2vVmAhg « Open to Hope

Healing Grief through the Gift of Volunteering, http://bit.ly/hO4In3 « Grief Healing

Attachment Is the Source of All Suffering, http://j.mp/2wmizFZ « Psychology Today

Coping with Pet Loss, August 27 - September 2, 2017

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

In-home pet hospice eases pain for animals and their people, http://j.mp/2wCRMq4  « QCOnline.com

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.