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“Although the world is full
of sorrow,
it is full also of the overcoming of it.”
- Helen Keller
Principles of Grief
Grief is a normal, natural and healthy response to loss. The intensity, duration and experiences of grief are unique to each person.
Grief is a lifelong process that continues to change. It has ebbs and flows, and takes surprising turns over time.
We all have the capacity to heal from loss. Those who accept the process and have support enhance their ability to recover from the pain of grief.
While grieving, it is normal to experience any of the following:
- Shock and disbelief
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating
- Distraction, frequent thoughts about the deceased or
what happened
- Fatigue, even after getting enough sleep
- Sleeplessness and anxiety
- Nausea or tightness in the throat or upper chest
- Changes in appetite
- Waves of intense emotion; longing, loneliness, despair,
anger, or sorrow
- Thoughts about the meaning of life and one’s mortality
Bereavement Support Programs & Services
- Peer Support Groups; for adults and children
- Individual Bereavement Support; provided through the
Living with Loss bereavement program
- Compassionate Care; after miscarriage, still birth and
infant death
- Training and Support; for caregivers and hospice care
professionals
- The Phoenix Group; a monthly social pot-luck
gathering of widowed people
- Community Outreach; for schools, organizations, and workplaces
- Educational Presentations and “In-Services”;
including the Annual Living with Grief teleconference, produced
by the Hospice Foundation of America
- Candle Lighting Service of Remembrance; an annual ecumenical
community celebration
- Free Resource Materials and Lending Library
- Referrals; to mental health professionals and others when normal grief becomes complicated
Children Grieve Too
- Young people have an innate wisdom and drive that can
help them find their way through difficult times.
- Each child will have a different pace and way of finding
their course through the grief process.
- Children appreciate the truth. Use words appropriate
to their age and understanding. Let them be a part of what is going
on. They will trust you and not have to make up stories on their own
which could be worse.
- In general, children like to stay engaged in their regular
activities.
- Children cope with loss better when the adults in their
lives get support for themselves. Find other people who can help you
and your children. Let their school know what is happening so they may
be supportive as well.
- As they grow, children and teens are continually developing
new skills and awareness that help them gain deeper understanding of
their losses.
- When a child or teen speaks about wanting to die or taking
his/her own life, it’s important to take it seriously.
- Children of all ages are naturally curious about death and intuitively know that it is part of the life cycle. It’s helpful to answer their questions about death, loss and grief in a matter-of-fact way from the earliest age.
“A Video Essay on Teenage Grief”
Ninety percent of children in the
United States experience the death of a loved one by age 18, and with
the loss, immense feelings of sadness, confusion, and grief. "A Video
Essay on Teenage Grief", the 2-part DVD and Study Guide produced
by Hospice Volunteer Services, is a valuable grief resource and educational
tool for teenagers and young adults. It is designed to reach and support
those who are grieving and the adults who care about them. We make this
resource available in the hope that it will stimulate meaningful dialogue
within this vulnerable population.
"A Video on Teenage Grief" is available through Fanlight Productions:
http://fanlight.com/catalog/films/503_vetg.php
A Companion Study Guide, used with
the video, is available for download. Click here for the Study Guide.
[288 KB, pdf]
The
information on this page is available as a color brochure by clicking
here
[1.7 MB, pdf]