Understanding and Managing Grief, August 11 - August 24, 2024

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Since he began specializing in grief counseling after becoming a licensed Mental Health Counselor in 2012, Todd Schmenk said the most meaningful response he has ever gotten from a client is for them to cry. “They just cried and then looked at me afterward and said, thanks for showing up,” Schmenk said. When it comes to helping others through grief, especially after losing a loved one, Schmenk said one simply needs to stop trying to fix the other person’s pain. The Key to Grief Is to Feel It « The Valley Breeze

Though everyone’s journey through grieving a loss is unique, one thing is universal: We all struggle to know how to cope with grief, especially when losing family members or close friends. Here, mental health professionals who’ve experienced it firsthand reveal the study-backed keys to honoring your feelings — and showing yourself compassion on your journey. How to Cope with Grief: Tips « Woman's World

Although everyone experiences the loss of a loved one, death often remains a taboo subject in our society. Grief is a natural part of life and a reflection of the love we have for the person who died. Starting a dialogue about grief can validate mourners’ experiences and ensure they receive support. What Does It Mean to Mourn in a Healthy Way? « Psychology Today

Grief is definitely not orderly, predictable, or stage-like. Instead, it is more of a “getting lost in the woods” experience. And it is recursive. This means that it twists and switchbacks. It’s shaped more like a random, meandering path than a straight line. When it turns back on itself, it tends to cover the same ground more than once. If you’re angry for a while, for example, you will probably feel your anger return in fits and spurts in the months to come. In fact, every pronounced feeling in grief usually requires repetition to eventually soften and become reconciled. You’re Not Crazy – You’re Grieving Pt. 4 « AfterTalk

Social media creates digital memorials allowing shared grief expression and continued bonds with the deceased. Virtual funerals and online support groups expand access to grief rituals and mental health resources. Digital legacies raise questions about posthumous online presence and the need for digital estate planning. Navigating Grief in the Digital Age « Psychology Today

This past March, Anne's life changed forever. While working from home, struggling with internet issues during a meeting, she moved to another room and briefly paused and restarted her noisy clothes dryer. Tragically, in that brief moment, her beloved 9-year-old, 7-pound cat sought refuge in the warmth of the machine. Anne didn’t anticipate this, and when she restarted the dryer, her kitty was inside. Her cat perished in what has become Anne's worst nightmare. This is her story. Voices of Experience: Sounding The Alarm for Cats Dying in Clothes Dryers « Grief Healing

Most people have heard of the "five stages of grief". The idea is that as we grieve, we progress through different stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. This popular concept was introduced by Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying. What might surprise you is that, despite its popularity, there is no scientific basis for the model and experts say it can be more harmful than helpful. Why the 'five stages of grief' model is problematic « ABC News AU

In his insightful books about coping with significant loss (Transitions, The Way of Transition and Managing Transitions), author William Bridges writes that every transition requires spending some time in what he calls the Neutral Zone – a seemingly unproductive “time-out” when we feel totally disconnected from people and things in the past and emotionally unconnected to the present. Transition After Loss: Spending Time in The Neutral Zone « Grief Healing

Nestled in the woods at Heritage Acres Memorial Sanctuary near Cincinnati, a black, push-button phone is perched on the sturdy trunk of a sky-scraping red oak tree. It is easily accessible by trail at this beautiful natural burial preserve, but it is a little off the beaten path to offer privacy. Next to the phone is a handmade cedar bench where someone can sit, think, and reflect for a while. This "phone of the wind" was installed in the woods at Heritage Acres by volunteer Julia Sandman to offer solace to those who are grieving and to provide an arboreal safe space to reach out to lost loved ones. I Need to Make a Call: Using a Wind Phone to Express Grief « Psychology Today

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