Understanding and Managing Grief, July 28 - August 10, 2024

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

Remember, early grief is a naturally out-of-control time. And it is this loss of control that often makes people feel like they’re going crazy. I know it doesn’t feel good to be out of control, though. That is because change and unpredictability stress our minds, bodies, and emotions. Any time we encounter something substantially different, we have to assess potential new dangers and figure out new responses. It is difficult, being in new situations—especially those we don’t want to be in. But the more we acknowledge that control is an illusion, the more comfortable we can become with the constant change and unpredictability of life.  You’re Not Crazy – You’re Grieving Pt. 3 « AfterTalk

"I love dogs, and since my husband died, only my beautiful little Cockapoo saves me from living alone. I couldn't survive without her. I know how many dogs in shelters need homes, and one great no‑kill shelter near me may have to shut down for lack of funds. So I've been thinking a lot about adopting a second dog." Widow Asks: Should I Adopt A Second Dog? « Grief Healing

For most, Sundays are spent browsing local farmers markets, flipping banana pancakes or gearing up for the week ahead. But for some, Sundays are for squeezing into wet suits, immersing themselves in 59 degree water and grappling with grief. How surfing helps some in WA ride the wave of grief « The Seattle Times

As author C.S. Lewis wrote after his 45-year-old wife died of cancer, “No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.” Feeling afraid or anxious is not pleasant, and I know it can be terrifying. Still, fear is perfectly normal after someone important to you dies. And if you’ve been experiencing fear, it could well be part of what is making you feel crazy. You’re Not Crazy – You’re Grieving Pt. 2 « AfterTalk

Losing someone close to you can make you age faster, a new study finds. People who lost a parent, partner, sibling or child showed signs of older biological age compared with those who hadn’t experienced such a loss, researchers reported July 29 in the journal JAMA Network Open. Grief Can Truly Age People, Study Finds « Health Day

My 6 year old niece died suddenly a month ago. I'm looking for guidance on how to support my sister. She has been completely devastated by this, understandably. Her children are her world. She has another son who is 12 and she's trying to be there for him, but I can tell she is in complete agony. I've never seen someone in such pain. Child Loss: Supporting A Sister in Grief « Grief Healing

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