Finding Hope in the Darkness of Grief
Grief is a universal experience. No one can escape the pain of loss, whether it's the loss of a loved one, a beloved pet, or any other cherished relationship. We all experience loss in life, and there's no one way to grieve. But finding hope and healing through loss supports can help you regain your footing when you're feeling lost.
What does grief look like? How does it manifest itself in different people? That depends on the person, and their own unique experience with loss—and with coping with loss.
The most important thing to remember when dealing with grief is that there is no "right way" to grieve. Different people will experience different emotions in response to loss, which means you might feel very differently than your best friend or partner who just lost their parent. So it's important to be kind to yourself during this time: give yourself space and practice self-care so that you can make the best decisions for yourself and your family during this difficult time.
There are many ways to support yourself after a loss. Here are just a few:
- Reach out to family members or friends who have experienced similar losses in their lives.
- Find a support group for those who have experienced similar losses in their lives.
- Make sure to take care of your physical health by eating well and getting enough sleep each night.
We know that grief isn't easy, but we also believe that it can be made easier by the support of others. That's why we are here—to provide you with a place where you can find the support you need to make sense of your loss, whether it's the passing of a loved one or the loss of a relationship.
If you're looking for support while grieving, don't hesitate to reach out! There are many resources available online that can help guide you through the process of coping with loss:
GRIEF SUPPORT RESOURCES
Center for Loss & Life Transition is an organization dedicated to helping people who are grieving and those who care for them by offering resources and understand. For more information, you may also call 970-226-6050.
Give An Hour is a national network of volunteers capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions that arise within our society by harnessing the skill and expertise of volunteer professionals to increase the likelihood that those in need receive the support and care they deserve. https://giveanhour.org/
Department of Veterans Affairs Bereavement Counseling offers bereavement support to parents, spouses, and children of active duty, National Guard, or reserve members who die while on military duty. For more information, you may also call 202-461-6530.
The Compassionate Friends provides highly personal comfort, hope, and support to every family experiencing the death of a son or daughter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family. For more information, you may also call 877-969-0010. https://www.compassionatefriends.org/
Vets4Warriors is a 24/7 peer support network committed to ensuring that all veterans, servicemembers, their families, and caregivers always have direct and immediate access to a peer who understands their life experiences and the challenges they face, and can provide support whenever they confront an issue, wherever they are in the world. For more information, you may also call 855-838-8255.
Hospice Foundation of America educates the public and health care professionals about death, dying and grief by bringing together the nation’s leading experts to contribute to books, web-based tutorials and programs, and videos. For more information, you may also contact 800-854-3402.
Open to Hope helps people find hope after loss though articles, books, television and podcast broadcastings, as well as allow you to share your stories of hope and compassion. https://www.opentohope.com/
eCondolence.com provides guidance about expressing condolences, grief and coping, and bereavement, as well as tools and resources to plan and coordinate following the loss of a loved one.
What's Your Grief promotes grief education, exploration and expression in both practical and creative ways by providing resources related to understanding and coping with grief and loss, guidance on how to help a grieving friend or family member, online courses about grief and supporting someone who's grieving, resources, education and training for grief counselors, volunteers and other professions in related fields, a podcast about grief, and a support community. https://whatsyourgrief.com/
Domani for Grief provides grief support, honest conversation and a heartfelt community through resources and information available to begin the healing process. You can explore courses, read blogs, join live events and sign-up for their monthly newsletter. https://www.forgrief.com/
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) TAPS is the national nonprofit organization providing compassionate care and comprehensive resources for all those grieving the death of a military or veteran loved one. www.taps.org
PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES
Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) is an international, professional organization dedicated to promoting excellence and recognizing diversity in death education, care of the dying, grief counseling and research in thanatology. For more information, you may also call 612-337-1808.
Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists is a professional membership organization of individuals engaged in and committed to excellence in trauma services, response, and treatment. For more information, you may also call 864-294-4337.
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) is an international interdisciplinary professional organization that promotes advancement and exchange of knowledge about traumatic stress. For more information, you may also call 847-686-2234.
National Alliance for Grieving Children (NAGC) is a professional member organization that raises awareness about the needs of children and teens who are grieving a death and provides education and resources for anyone who supports them. For more information, you may also call 866-432-1542.
National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) aims to advance the clinical care and social welfare of America’s veterans and others who have experienced trauma, or who suffer from PTSD, through research, education, and training in the science, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and stress related disorders.
"How Lucky am I to Have Something That Makes Saying Goodbye So Hard" Winnie the Pooh