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Grief and Loss Articles
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- "Who Burned My Roles" - Coping with changes after the loss of a spouse - by Submitted on Jun 22, 2011 from Mary ZemitesOur roles in life define us. Parent, spouse, student, employee, sibling, and offspring are some examples. Our identity is shaped by these roles. Before my husband's death, my defining roles were mother, wife and caregiver. With three young children and a terminally ill husband, these ...
Views: 2606(1 vote) - ***6 Keys to Re-Awaken Hope after Loss - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2012 from Karen Mehringer, MAWhile in the grieving process, it may feel as though hope has abandoned you. Depressed, you question your purpose for living. You ask, “Why did this happen? What is the point of it all?” You may have lost hope for living your dreams or don’t even know what they are anymore. Perhaps your loved ...
Views: 2465(2 votes) - ***Allowing Grief; Awakening New Possibilities - by Submitted on May 25, 2012 from Karen Mehringer, MAWhere two rivers joined, I spotted a large dead Ponderosa pine which had fallen down a steep ravine on its side, half of its trunk submerged in the water. Carefully navigating my way down the ravine, I felt excited….This was the first day of my vacation and the tree was the perfect place for me ...
Views: 2114(1 vote) - ***Anniversary Reactions; a Part of the Grieving Process - by Submitted on Jun 06, 2012 from Karen Mehringer, MAAt a distance we noticed a hawk flying. In the next moment, it headed straight towards us and circled over head. Smiling, I knew that Kyle was with us as we celebrated the 13-year anniversary of his death. We made a ritual of hiking to his tree, a small oak ling; we planted in his honor, a year ...
Views: 3353(1 vote) - ***Creating Room for Grief - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2012 from Karen Mehringer, MAThe grieving process is natural. Similar to the cycles of the seasons or the ebb and flood of the tides…it is not linear and straightforward, but it comes and goes. At times we may feel good about life…inspired, energized and in our passion. At others we may feel sad, fatigued and depressed. ...
Views: 2379(1 vote) - ***Dive into Life! - by Submitted on Aug 12, 2011 from Karen Mehringer, MASobbing, I exclaimed, “I finally have my life back!” Sitting on a catamaran on a beach at Mission Bay in San Diego last week, my step-mom, sister, her boyfriend and I took time out to celebrate my brother, Kyle’s life on the anniversary of his death. He had been gone for twelve years now. We ...
Views: 2115(2 votes) - ***Emerging From a Cocoon - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2011 from Karen Mehringer, MADiscouraged, I thought, “I wish I could afford to go to therapy.” The grief over my last miscarriage and my pet’s illnesses weighed heavy on me. Further, for the past nine years, I had experienced one early pregnancy loss after another. Tired of leaning on my husband and friends for support, I ...
Views: 2290(1 vote) - ***Navigating Grief - by Submitted on Jun 28, 2011 from Karen Mehringer, MAGrief is a mysterious creature. It lurks unnoticed in the dark corners of our hearts only to be un-leashed by the simplest of provocations…listening to a song, looking at a picture, watching a movie, a brief thought or memory flashes through our minds reminding us of our loss. All of a sudden, a ...
Views: 2215(3 votes) - ***The Eulogy - Allowing for Your Emotions - by Submitted on Sep 23, 2013 from Nancy DanielsI recently attended my uncle’s memorial service and it was wonderful to watch 4 of his 6 children talk about him. There is no doubt that all were experiencing butterflies as they stood at the lectern but they did an excellent job controlling their nervousness. The expression of their emotions, ...
Views: 1832(1 vote) - ***The Heart Rock Story - by Submitted on Jun 28, 2011 from Karen Mehringer, MACruising on I-90 form Washington back to Colorado, John and I are ready for rest after eight hours of driving. We stop at a campground with easy access to the freeway, just outside of Missoula, Montana. Fortunately, the campground is practically empty. We set up camp among tall ponderosa pines ...
Views: 2224(1 vote) - ***The Power of Tears - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2010 from Margaret Paul"Those who do not know how to weep with their whole heart don't know how to laugh either." - Golda MeirDo you have a lid on your tears? Do you also have a hard time laughing with your whole body?Our tears are a God-given way of expressing sadness, just as laughter is a God-given way of ...
Views: 5103(3 votes) - ***Tools for Transforming Depression - by Submitted on Apr 26, 2012 from Karen Mehringer, MAIf you find yourself feeling unmotivated, lacking energy for life, grumpy or irritable, you may be depressed. Depression is typically caused by suppressed anger, at the root of which is the feeling of powerlessness. When we give our power away, our creative life force energy becomes stifled and ...
Views: 2744(3 votes) - ***Trusting the Seasons of Life - by Submitted on Jun 28, 2011 from Karen Mehringer, MA“Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!” Absolute silence enveloped me except for the sound of my boots on the hard packed snow. I quickly shoved my gloved hands deep into my jacket pockets as I didn’t want my fingers to get frost bitten. With a scarf wrapped tightly around my neck, mouth and nose, and my wool ...
Views: 2055(1 vote) - 3 Steps to Shifting Out of Grief - by Submitted on Jun 20, 2012 from Kumari MullinThree months after my beloved Teacher in doggie form, Suki, left her body, I found myself still feeling an enormous ache in my heart whenever I thought of her. I knew enough to realize that how we feel is a choice, usually based on a belief. As a healer and dedicated spiritual practitioner for ...
Views: 2575(2 votes) - 5 Steps to Facilitate Communication with the Dearly Departed - by Submitted on Jan 17, 2011 from Christy MartinAre You interested in opening up yourself to talking to spirits. Are You willing to receive messages for yourself and others? Have You lost someone and wish to make contact? When I do a psychic reading for someone, I know I’ve reached the connection with them when I sense their guides in the ...
Views: 2076(1 vote) - 5 Tips you CAN do to help the grieving!! - by Submitted on Jun 04, 2012 from Jane GalbraithWho hasn’t heard or said themselves “I just don’t know what to say.” Or “I feel so helpless – there’s nothing I can do!!” Well there ARE things that you can do or say to help those in pain due to the death of a loved one. We can help, and not just in little ways, and it makes a tremendous ...
Views: 1757(1 vote) - 8 Ways to Let Go - by Submitted on Sep 30, 2011 from Vanessa CodorniuSometimes when things come to an end, we feel more than slightly lost. When a relationship, friendship or job ends it could seem to crash our world. Our blood, sweat, tears, hopes and often life-long dreams seemed to be shattered. Other times the endings are not so serious and yet they tug at ...
Views: 2164(1 vote) - A Look at Life and Death - by Submitted on May 03, 2011 from Janis EricsonRevenge is a confession of pain.” Today it is hard to think of much else. The news that Osama Bin Laden was dead arrived last night, and I wasn’t alone in my shock. It is news I thought would never arrive. We all remember 9/11 and where we were that day. None of us was alone in our grief ...
Views: 1442(1 vote) - A poetic Prayer for memorial Day. - by Submitted on May 26, 2011 from Carl Tuchy PalmieriA poetic Prayer for memorial Day. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Remember them Remember Him Remember them Remember him They died to keep us Free He died for you and me Remember Them Remember Him They were wounded ...
Views: 1674(1 vote) - A Psychological Persepctive on Quantum Healing - by Submitted on Feb 21, 2011 from Cathryn TaylorTHE BASICS – “Where it all begins!” In the last decade an explosion has occurred. The Laws of the Universe – the laws of attraction – the laws of abundance are now being made available to the masses. An electrical current is running through the planet as a plethora of information reaches the ...
Views: 1880(2 votes) - A Slow, Impending Death or a Sudden Death? Which is More Difficult to Deal With? - by Submitted on Jun 09, 2013 from Dora CarpenterDeath, no matter what the cause, is always unexpected and a shock. I know this, and as a death care professional and grief coach, I teach this. Working over 12 years in the death care industry, I’ve seen the emotions of death and grief. I’ve assisted hundreds of families with prearrangements, ...
Views: 1696(1 vote) - Accepting Loss and Moving On - by Submitted on Feb 04, 2011 from Roberta Stack-CostantinoYou have had a loss...you are in pain, depressed, sad, and just feeling alone. You feel like nobody really understands what you are going through. Have I got it right? Guess what? People do understand what you are going through, because odds are, someone in this world has gone through ...
Views: 10434(1 vote) - Addressing the Spiritual Concerns of Those Who Are Moving Through Grief and Trauma - by Submitted on Jan 13, 2011 from Dr. Jane Simington1). It is important to recognize that trauma and the resulting grief can result from war crimes, torture, terrorist activity, kidnapping, family violence, assault, sexual abuse, child deaths and other sudden or violent deaths. Other events and circumstances, while not commonly categorized as ...
Views: 1725(1 vote) - An Excerpt from Setting the Captive Free (Simington, J., 2010). An Art- based Approach to Healing Wounds of Grief and Trauma - by Submitted on Jan 21, 2011 from Dr. Jane SimingtonFor a number of years I offered programming for women who were deeply grieving; all of them had experienced significant and, in many cases, lifelong trauma. I heard in their life narratives elements of my own story; I heard their soul pain, for in many ways it mirrored my own. I recognized that ...
Views: 1768(1 vote) - An Open Letter to My Daughter Gracelyn in the Era of Donald Trump - by Submitted on Jun 14, 2017 from Bruce MulkeyDear Gracelyn, Today I write this letter to you so that you might better understand the tumultuous transformation that’s currently underway in our nation. For while your mother Shonnie and I are doing our best during your childhood to shelter you from adult concerns, I’m guessing that you ...
Views: 1404(1 vote) - Anniversaries of grief - mark them well - by Submitted on Jun 06, 2011 from Tamara ThomasOnce again, the month of May presented personal challenges. Memorial Day brings with it my own personal day of remembrance – the anniversary of my daughter’s car crash and death. This May marks three years. Each year, as the date has approached, I have tried to convince myself that it would ...
Views: 1722(1 vote) - Bea On Bereavement - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2010 from Beatrice Toney BaileyThroughout my entire life, I have always enjoyed creative writing and public speaking. As a species, I believe that we write because we have a need to tell our stories and connect with people. During 2005-2006, I began writing my book, “Farewell, My Friend”, which chronicles the illness and ...
Views: 1282(1 vote) - Butterflies Can Help Us - by Submitted on Mar 20, 2013 from Ian ScottThe Butterfly in all its glory is a symbol of transformation, hope, faith, and love. Its most important role however is the remarkable gift it gives to us, in understanding death and rebirth unveiling the process of re-incarnation. Another extraordinary example of the butterfly is its ability ...
Views: 1776(1 vote) - Capture Your Memories - by Submitted on Jan 30, 2018 from Sherry JoinerCapture Your Memories Sherry Joiner –Living A Life With Schizo-Affective Disorder - Lecturer in the Psyche Ward and In Our Own Voice Speaker for NAMI When I was having trouble with mom’s suicide in my 40’s I dealt with my insecurities by sewing. I began with stitchery kits of flowers, ...
Views: 1261(1 vote) - Choose Happy! Tools for Living a Resilient Life - by Submitted on Nov 26, 2012 from Sandy PeckinpahDid you know Happiness is a choice? You are the one in control of making that decision every single day. It's hard to fathom when it feels like the whole world and the economy are in chaos. However, I learned through tragedy and ultimately triumph, I could choose "happy," no matter ...
Views: 1755(1 vote) - Connecting to Nature: Sacred Lessons Learned - by Submitted on Apr 27, 2011 from Dr. Jane SimingtonConnecting to Nature: Sacred Lessons Learned “Mom, can you come today? I want to show you the little river Wes and I found yesterday. It’s full of minnows. It’s in that marshy place where they cut down those old trees.” There were indeed minnows in his new found stream. I returned, on ...
Views: 1624(1 vote) - Coping Strategies for Depression - by Submitted on May 05, 2012 from Rosemary PriceCoping strategies for depression.. Even the most positive and pro active person can find it is very difficult to climb past the problems and feelings that come with suffering from depression. There are all sorts of things to think of. Not just how you feel, but how others see you and how it ...
Views: 3233(1 vote) - Coping with Grief - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2012 from Linney ElderDark Days and Lonely Nights……. The dark pit of grief that yawned below my feet threatening to swallow me whole for weeks after my loved one’s death from cancer is finally fading and the overwhelming grief is subsiding to a dull ache in the middle of my chest. People kept telling me that ...
Views: 2107(1 vote) - Could your excess weight be a form of protection? - by Submitted on Oct 28, 2010 from Julie SimonI recently saw the play Ruined at the Geffen Theatre here in Los Angeles. It was an extremely moving and poignant story of the sexual and emotional abuse of women in the war-torn Congo. In this fictional story, some of the female Congolese refugees were "lucky" enough to find work and shelter in ...
Views: 1717(1 vote) - Dark Tears Are Pearls Of Wisdom - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2010 from Anthon St MaartenIf you are currently facing a difficult period in your life, please, do know that it will not last forever! Better days will be knocking on your door in due course. Time does not only heal all wounds, it also reveals to us the method in all the madness we had to go through. We are often blinded ...
Views: 1904(1 vote) - Dealing With Grief - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2012 from Shiroko SokitchMary’s son died in Afghanistan a few years ago. Not much later she developed a painful ovarian cyst. She did not want to have surgery. When she came into my office, she was skeptical about the possibility of her son’s death and her cyst being related. Grief like most painful emotions is one ...
Views: 2052(2 votes) - Dealing with Grief and Loss - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2012 from Grace AbonilloWe can never escape death. It is inevitable and yet when a loved one or a close friend died we suffered a great range of emotions. We desperately try to avoid the hurt, the pain, anxiety and feelings of helplessness we feel when we lost a loved one. Then we feel like life has gone back to ...
Views: 2299(3 votes) - Dealing with Holiday Stress and Grief - by Submitted on Nov 16, 2012 from Mitzi WoodThe holidays are supposed to be a happy time of the year. We have time off, we get to see our families, our kids are excited about this magical time of the year, etc. But for many people the holidays only mean stress, anxiety, and grief. If you have lost a loved one, you may be experiencing this ...
Views: 1685(1 vote) - Dear Dr. Romance: I Still Miss Him Terribly - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2020 from Tina TessinaDear Dr. Romance: My husband/best friend crossed-over a few years ago and I still miss him terribly. I think of him every day and his essence is always with me. I am still in love with him and cannot imagine having a relationship with another man. At this time, however, I have two ...
Views: 859(1 vote) - Dear Dr. Romance: What I fear has happened the second time round - by Submitted on Jan 13, 2021 from Tina TessinaDear Dr. Romance: I hope you can help me. My boyfriend passed away two years back... We were pretty much engaged, living together and everything. I thought i was over the whole thing, but now I know I'm not. A month back, or so.. i was seeing a man, and today i found out he had ...
Views: 859(1 vote) - Dear Dr. Romance: What Is The Grieving Process? - by Submitted on May 13, 2013 from Tina TessinaDear Dr. Romance: What Is The Grieving Process? What are the stages of the grieving process? How long does it take to go through each stage? Can one stage be relived over and over again? Is there a way to help someone through each stage? Dear Reader: If you've had a personal ...
Views: 1596(1 vote) - Dear Dr. Romance: What Is The Grieving Process? - by Submitted on Sep 05, 2015 from Tina TessinaDear Dr. Romance: What Is The Grieving Process? What are the stages of the grieving process? How long does it take to go through each stage? Can one stage be relived over and over again? Is there a way to help someone through each stage? Dear Reader: If you've had a personal loss, I am ...
Views: 1436(1 vote) - Death Bed Thief - by Submitted on Apr 27, 2010 from Julie HallExploitation can raise its ugly head in the midst of unsuspecting situations. Such was the case with the Garvey family (not real name). Mom and Dad Garvey were about the nicest people you'd ever wish to meet. Their three adult children lived nearby; they loved to have all the grandchildren over ...
Views: 1749(1 vote) - Decluttering a Loved One's Possessions - by Submitted on Feb 24, 2012 from Beth DargisFirst of all, no one, not decluttering gurus, best friends or anyone else can tell you what to get rid of and what is important to keep. Only you know the stories behind your possessions and how they affect you. There is no "should." You don’t have to get rid of anything. But, if you feel ...
Views: 2002(1 vote) - Depression and Women - by Submitted on Sep 24, 2010 from Darlene LancerLast year, a study reported that despite the improvement in women's lives, their happiness relative to men has declined since the '70s, when the reverse was true. This held true across racial and socio-economic lines in several industrialized countries. Women's happiness also declines with age. ...
Views: 1822(1 vote) - Does Love Ever Die? - by Submitted on May 07, 2011 from Christine AryloHow to feel loved even when a relationship ends 7 days ago I made one of the hardest decisions of my life. A decision made for love, but a choice that really seemed to be set up to take love away from me. 7 days ago, I helped my best friend of 17-years, my heart companion, my soul dog, ...
Views: 2496(1 vote) - Dr. Romance on Dating after Loss - by Submitted on Jun 19, 2020 from Tina TessinaGrief is an essential life skill -- knowing how to survive grief means feeling safe to take another risk, and grieving actually expands one's capacity to love.Expression of grief, and respect for the dead, is very important to the grieving process. A symbol of grief for the loss of one ...
Views: 1043(1 vote) - Dr. Romance on Grief: From Surviving to Thriving - by Submitted on Aug 24, 2015 from Tina TessinaDr. Romance has had many clients who are grieving, and wrote this to help. None of us wants to think about it, but the standard definition of a totally successful relationship is the old, traditional "til death do us part." Any time we love, whether it’s a life partner, a dear ...
Views: 1363(1 vote) - Dr. Romance on Grief: From Surviving to Thriving - by Submitted on Sep 05, 2015 from Tina TessinaDr. Romance has had many clients who are grieving, and wrote this to help. None of us wants to think about it, but the standard definition of a totally successful relationship is the old, traditional "til death do us part." Any time we love, whether it’s a life partner, a dear ...
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