Understanding and Managing Grief, November 6 - November 12, 2022

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

More than a million Americans have lost their lives to COVID-19, leading to what some have called a second epidemic of grief. Lockdowns and other factors meant that many people couldn’t process their losses in normal ways with funerals and other gatherings. Prolonged and unaddressed grief can lead to significant mental health problems. Rep. Joe Morelle (D-New York) introduced the Grief Resilience Investment and Education Fund (GRIEF) Act to help combat some of these issues, especially in marginalized communities.  Better Support for Grieving Americans « Home Care

Grief is an experience individual to each person, but generally it can help to have someone there for you. A dog may be perfect. When you have a strong bond with your dog, it can often intuit your feelings — and offer you support, experts said. When Grieving, You May Need 3 Things Only A Dog Can Provide « CNN

Veterans Day is our opportunity to thank Veterans and their families for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served ~ not only those who died ~ have sacrificed and done their duty. Veterans Day 2022  « Grief Healing

Death and grief make us uncomfortable. It's hard to know what to say to a griever, and it can be even harder to know what not to say. Being present and bearing witness to your friend's pain is just as important as having the right words. What Not to Say to Your Grieving Friend « Psychology Today

Grief had made me feel unmoored, but on the Pilates mat or the reformer, I was able to once again feel where I was. It was grounding. Pilates Helped Me Make Space for Grief—and Believe in My Strength Again—as a Young Widow « Well + Good

While many of us grieve alone, there is something that draws many together when grief and loss are huge. The pandemic, war, and the loss of many people at one time to senseless crimes all require a special kind of mourning that goes beyond one or two people. Our human nature pushes us toward one another for solace and understanding, and sometimes the only action that can ease our pain from this loss is being with others that feel it as strongly as we do. What To Know About Collective Grief And Its Benefits « Glam

Addiction is silent suffering. The rollercoaster of emotions may be too difficult to explain — fear, hope, despair, recovery, relapse and back around again. The courage to share is often silenced by the stigma and judgment that permeates. The silence is deafening yet addiction continues to take its toll — in the US, overdoses were the number one cause of accidental death last year according to the CDC. For every person, there is a story — a son, a daughter, a brother, a sister, a friend. For every person, there is a life, an experience, a voice that deserves to be heard. One story at a time can break the silence and start the conversation.   “My Son Was A Person First” — A Mother’s Story of Addiction, Grief, Stigma, Forgiveness and Hope « Good Morning Wilton 

As I’ve done in years past, over the next several weeks I’ll be looking online for articles, webinars and other reliable resources to recommend to my readers and visitors, and each day throughout the holiday season I’ll be posting links to them here. Since I am building upon this list on a daily basis, I invite you to check back often to see what’s been added. Coping with The Holidays: Suggested Resources, 2022 « Grief Healing

For the uninitiated, hospice may conjure up thoughts of death and dying, grief and dread. But for many who have experienced loved ones go through hospice, it stands for the ability of those who are entering the last stage of life to make choices: To live their best lives even as they are dying. Seasons Hospice House reaches 25-year mark: How hospice has changed the way we think about death and dying « Yahoo! News

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. 

Pin It