Understanding and Managing Grief, October 22 - October 28, 2023

Best selections from Grief Healing's X feed this week:

After-death communications (ADCs) occur in people of all faiths, as well as agnostics and atheists. ADC experiences often leave a sense of comfort and healing in the wake of grief. Even as religious affiliation is on the decline, ADCs and belief in the afterlife seem to be increasing. After-Death Communication Experiences May Promote Healing « Psychology Today

Talking about end-of-life arrangements with a family member or close friend is an emotionally charged undertaking that many people hesitate to embark upon. Despite the inherent difficulty of the subject matter, it’s crucial to have this discussion to ensure your loved one’s final wishes are met with respect and dignity. Taking a compassionate approach helps in turning what could be an awkward and painful conversation into a meaningful interaction. Final Wishes, First Steps: Your Guide to End-of-Life Conversations « AfterTalk

I didn’t fully grasp the concept of grief until I unexpectedly lost my father and experienced heartache after breaking up with my first love while preparing to enter the workforce. I was not prepared for it. But, for anyone who may be anxious about loss or has lost someone already, here are a few of the lessons I’ve learned. Column: Alleviating the heaviness of grief « Daily Titan

The purpose of this series is to provide an understanding of grief in adults and children. Our world is filled with many things that are worthy of our grief. It is helpful to identify grief, experience and process the grief, and then understand the other side of grief, which is not the absence of it. Grief Series: The Beginning Work of Grief « Cook Children's Checkup Newsroom

This is what Stroebe and Schut described as the dual-process model of grief, in which we “oscillate” between “loss oriented” and “restoration oriented” phases as we process our grief. Sometimes we are in a stage of looking backwards and missing all that we have lost, sometimes we are more focused on the now and the future, and on rebuilding our disrupted lives. The Dual Process Model of Grief « Psychology Today

1 in 4 women will experience pregnancy loss, and 2.6 million stillbirths happen each year, according to the World Health Organization. Even given these staggering statistics, open discussion about the topic remains stigmatized, leaving mothers and families to grieve in silence or behind closed doors. Shining A Light On Silent Grief « Axios

T"wo months ago we lost our 18-year-old son in a traffic accident just two blocks from our home. He was driving alone. We are talking about moving because my wife can't drive by the intersection anymore and does not feel comfortable in the home. I need some advice on the subject of moving." In Grief: Making Big Decisions After Major Loss « Grief Healing

Grief is a good thing — truly, it is. It’s therapeutic. While it grips us, healing takes place, but not without cost or pain. Sort of like removing a diseased appendix — it hurts like the dickens, but once healed, you will feel better than in a very long time. The thing that strikes me is that it doesn’t come, heal and then leave. Oh, no. Just when one thinks they’re through with it, it catches you off guard and the tears flow, the sadness and loss return. You feel as if there has been no progress at all and yet, there is. CRUMBS OF CANDOR: Good grief « The News Courier

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