Rock Hill Senior Solutions Advisor Talks about Grief

The Heart of Grief and How to Survive

After my mother died, I attended a six-week hospice grief support group, and a couple of months later attended the whole six weeks again! Despite the fact that I’d been a bereavement counselor myself and knew a lot about grief, it made a world of difference to feel the support of others going through the experience of loss.

We all need to be “accompanied” through difficult life passages, and my hope is that this article will help to support those of you who are facing the formidable task of recovering from the death of a loved one. Although we grieve many losses throughout a lifetime, such as losing a job or a home, the death of a loved one is especially difficult. It is probably the most painful of all human experiences. Whether it is a parent, child, friend or a pet, a whole host of feelings is triggered by loss, and the only way to heal from the loss is to experience fully those feelings.

Everyone’s journey through grief is unique and no two people will grieve in exactly the same way. There are, however, reactions to loss which are common to everyone. Knowledge of these responses can ease the way considerably by letting us know that our feelings and thoughts are normal and expectable. Since grief can sometimes make us feel as if we are “going crazy," it can really help to know about the complex set of reactions which are a part of the territory. This knowledge can also help us to flow with the feelings of grief rather than try to suppress them. The only way to get through grief is to go straight into the heart of it!

Story courtesy of "Heart of Healing" Website

Other Internet Grief Resources:

Meditation Oasis Podcast — listen to various guided meditations, including a special guided meditation for grief

http://www.griefhealing.com/ — our favorite — lovely, informative website

http://www.hospicenet.org/html/bereavement.html — especially well-written and informative website

http://www.americanhospice.org/griefzone/articles/helpingself.htm — how to help yourself with grief

http://www.griefnet.org/library/biblio/index.html — extensive book list by topics

http://www.compassionatefriends.org/ — support with the death of a child

Agape Hospice is a faith based organization and a recognized leader in patient centered hospice care, offering extensive services throughout the Piedmont region of South Carolina. We are respected for our professional and compassionate care allowing our patients to experience a peaceful death and their families receive the support services they need so they have a special sense of spiritual and emotional peace. Rock Hill, Lancaster, Chester, Great Falls, Pageland, Fort Lawn, Van Wyck, Springdale, Greenville, Mauldin, Simpsonville, Spartanburg, Greer, Union, Gaffney, Boiling Springs, Taylors, SC. Call us at (800)-411-2427

Ask Agape Your Senior Resource Center