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Western Reserve CareLink


Time Softens Grief


Now that  winter is upon us and the days are short, I find myself thinking of my recent trip to Alaska. How would it be to live in darkness for 20 hours every day? The bereaved often feel enveloped in darkness.

In Alaska, hobbies help them cope with the long hours of blackness, and during the nighttime hours, the northern lights abound. They are a beacon of hope, and hope can guide us through our grief.


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December 21 2013

Categories: Grief and Loss About Grief Diane Snyder-Cowan 


How long does this grief process take?


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Bereavement counselors are often asked, "When will I be over the death of my loved one?" Perhaps the question is the result of feeling as though the sharp, raw pain of grief will never end. Or maybe the question arises because well-meaning friends and family have asked "shouldn't you be over this by now?" The answer to the question "when will I get over this" is NEVER. Grieving is a lifelong process, not a long-term or short-term process. This does not mean you are doomed to a life of misery and sadness. It means that grief will be part of your life history and become a part of who you are as you redefine the relationship you once had. The relationship with your loved one does not end because they are no longer here physically; rather, a new type of relationship is created based on memory, spirit, and love.
 
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December 21 2013

Categories: Grief and Loss About Grief Kathryn Harrison Brown, MA, LPC 


Getting Through the Holidays


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Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah! 'Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la la la! For many "merry, happy, jolly" are far from the feelings they are experiencing at the holidays. 


"How can I be happy when I've lost the most important person in the world? How do I go on, let alone rejoice when I have nothing to celebrate?"
 
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December 21 2013

Categories: Grief and Loss About Grief Karen Kincaid, MA, PCC 


Grief Knows No Time



The anniversary of my dad’s death is also right around the time of Thanksgiving. In fact, Thanksgiving fell during Shiva and we had a small, but traditional turkey dinner. It felt dreamlike. Last year, we went back to our traditional meal at my sister’s with many family members and, although it was festive, we could feel Dad’s absence.
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November 12 2013

Categories: Grief and Loss Diane Snyder-Cowan 


Give Yourself Permission to Grieve


Early in their journey through grief, most people will experience varying degrees of numbness. Commonly, within four to seven months following the death of a loved one, the numbness begins to lift and emotions flood in. Relief, sorrow, anger, guilt, loneliness and regret may emerge. Unfortunately, at the time when one begins to feel engulfed in confusing and powerful emotions, friends and family may urge: "It's been weeks or months, aren't you over it yet? Time to pull yourself together and get on with your life." Comments like these imply that unless they jump back into life fairly soon after the death, something is wrong. Many bereaved people are angered and shocked that others could be so insensitive to their physical, emotional and social upheaval after the death of their loved one.
 
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October 31 2013

Categories: Grief and Loss About Grief Diana Battles LISW, ACHP-SW 

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