Understanding and Managing Grief, November 19 - November 25, 2023

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

Knowing how to respond sensitively to someone else’s bad news is the last missing piece in the jigsaw of adulthood, the life skill most of us only realise, to our dismay, we are lacking in that particular sniper’s alley of the late 40s and 50s, when everyone is seemingly running from something and it suddenly feels very important indeed to be a good friend. These are the years of losing elderly parents, but also of early heart attacks, cancer diagnoses, of friends blindsided by now-the-kids-are-grown-and-gone divorces. Lately I’ve found myself struggling too often for the right words. There’s no right thing to say to people who are grieving, but the worst thing is fearing to speak at all « The Guardian  

The loss of a pet can be a heart-wrenching experience, leaving us feeling lost and broken. This guide aims to provide comfort and practical advice on navigating through this difficult time. From embracing your grief to cherishing memories and considering the love of another pet, we explore various ways to cope and gradually heal. Navigating Pet Loss: A Guide to Coping & Healing « The Good Men Project 

From traditional elegies to dark, speculative fiction—grief, loss, and bereavement have been torn open, dissected, and stitched back together by creatives in a wide range of exploratory styles, each one unique in its handling of the nuances of personal struggle and eventual finding of the light. The elegy is a particular poetic form in which the poet, author, or performer expresses personal grief, sadness, or loss. Elegies of Sorrow and the Crow: How to Process Grief and Loss Through Storytelling « Literary Hub

"Six months ago I learned that a dear friend’s husband died by suicide. He was found hanging in their garage. As horrible as that was, I’ve just been told that yesterday their 17-year-old son took his own life too, and in the very same way. We are all in a state of shock. I don’t know what I can do to help her." Grief after Suicide Loss: Supporting A Friend « Grief Healing

Actors, musicians, writers, and other cultural figures can make an indelible mark on our own real and lived experience. And when the loss involves an actor who created a memorable character who came into our living rooms over such a long period of time, you feel as if you have lost a very real “Friend.” Ask Amy: I am grieving over the death of Matthew Perry « Chicago Tribune

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