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Understanding the Grieving Process

The sorrow that follows the death of a loved one is as old as humanity itself. The grieving process, though, includes a range of emotions. These emotions can overlap, causing confusion, frustration, and anxiety.

When a death first occurs you may initially experience some disbelief, especially if the death was sudden or unexpected. Once the shock wears off, a person may feel emotionally numb. At times, this is mistaken for insensitivity or lack of feeling, but this is far from true. Denial may follow, accompanied by anger. Depending on how the death occurred, this anger could be directed at a doctor, nurse, or someone who was with the loved one at the time of death. Guilt is also common. “Why didn’t I see it coming?” “I knew something was wrong. I should have made him go to the doctor.” “Why am I still alive and she is dead?”

Acute grief comes shortly thereafter. While some of the above emotions may still plague the bereaved individual, acute grief often includes insomnia, loss of appetite, mood swings, memory loss, poor judgment, inability to work, crying, extreme fatigue, changes in health, and even hallucinations. It is not at all uncommon for grieving family members to think they see their loved one or hear his voice.

Depending on the person, acute grief may last for a period of days, weeks, or even months. If it adversely affects one’s health, however, counseling and/or medical care may prove helpful.

As acute grief levels off, sadness and sorrow will remain. Nostalgic feelings, pleasant memories of good times and even humor about the deceased will return. In time, the memories will not bring as many tears and daily life returns to a new state of normalcy.

During this time you will want to avoid making major decisions or getting rid of things belonging to the deceased. Give yourself time to grieve and allow yourself to cry. Express your feelings to others. If it helps, talk about your loved one or look at photos. Above all, remember that the grieving process takes time.

Setting up a virtual memorial can be of aid during the grieving process as it offers a means of expressing your emotions and recalling fond memories. While time may not completely heal all wounds, it does make the memories a little less painful.

National Help Sites:

Please take a moment to look through this valuable listing of private and national websites featuring counselors, support groups, and other websites where you can find comfort and additional help in understanding the grieving process and recovering from your loss.

This list contains many grief and loss resources; but also includes a variety of topics ranging from domestic abuse to eating disorders, drug abuse to emergency response information, and an assortment of many more helpful topics to better assist you…

Please explore them all, and if your specific need is not covered, please contact us at Support@ThingsNeverSaid.com, and we will try to accommodate your needs in future updates.

Note: Listing of sites does not imply an endorsement by ThingsNeverSaid.com LLC and is included to provide sources of useful information.

Coping with Grief and loss
 
http://www.aarp.org/families/grief_loss/
American Association of Retired People Grief and Loss program (AARP) includes online articles, publications, support groups, and discussion boards on coping with the loss of a family member.

http://www.accesshelp.org/
Aircraft Casualty Emotional Support Service (ACCESS) provides peer grief support and resource information to those who have survived or lost loved ones in air disasters.

http://www.afsp.org/
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is dedicated to advancing knowledge of suicide and the ability to prevent it.

http://www.alivealone.org/
Alive Alone - Designed to benefit bereaved parents whose only child or all children have died by providing a self-help network and newsletter to promote communication and healing.

http://www.babysteps.com/
BabySteps - Named after the baby steps that form the long and difficult road to recovery from the loss of a child.

http://www.bereavedparentsusa.org/
Bereaved Parents of the USA (BPUSA) offers support, care, and compassion for bereaved parents, siblings, and grandparents.

http://www.climb-support.org/
Center for Loss in Multiple Births - By and for parents who have experienced the death of one or more children during a multiple pregnancy, at birth, and through childhood.

http://www.compassionconnection.org/index.cfm
Compassion Connection - Contains articles and readings for all who have suffered a loss.

http://www.comfortzonecamp.org/
Comfort Zone Camp - No charge nonprofit camp for siblings and children (age 7-17) coping with the loss of a sibling or parent

http://www.hospicefoundation.org/
Hospice Foundation of America - Includes information about hospice care and programs including bereavement support for families using hospice.

http://www.misschildren.org/
Mothers in Sympathy and Support (MISS) provides emergency support to families after the death of their baby or young child.

http://www.sidscenter.org/
National SIDS Resource Center - provides information services and technical assistance on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and related topics.
http://www.pomc.com/index.htm
Parents Of Murdered Children - provides support and assistance to all survivors of homicide victims while working to create a world free of murder.

http://www.nationalshareoffice.com/
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support (SHARE) -Mission is to serve those who are touched by the tragic death of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or newborn death.

http://www.survivorsofsuicide.com/
Survivors of Suicide (SOS) helps those who have lost a loved one to suicide to resolve their grief and pain in their own personal way.

http://www.taps.org/
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is made up of, and provides services to, all those who have lost a loved one while serving the country in the Armed Forces.

http://www.tlcinstitute.org/
National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC) is dedicated to helping traumatized children and families restore a sense of safety and reduce the effects of trauma; information available about trauma, resources, and training for professionals.

http://www.twinlesstwins.org/
Twinless Twins - serves in support of twins (and all multiple births) who suffer from the loss of companionship of their twin through death, estrangement or in-utero loss.

Topic Oriented Help Sites

http://www.natap.org/
National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Program (NATAP)-Our mission is to educate individuals about HIV and Hepatitis treatments and to advocate on the behalf of all people living with HIV/AIDS and HCV. Our efforts in these areas are conducted on local, national, and international levels.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp
American Cancer Society (ACS)- One of the primary goals of ACS is to provide the most accurate, up- to- date information on cancer. Learn about our current information resources and programs.

http://www.childhelp.org/
Childhelp® exists to meet the physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children. We focus our efforts on advocacy, prevention, treatment and community outreach.

http://www.glnh.org/
The GLBT National Help Center is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that is dedicated to meeting the needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and those questioning their sexual orientation and gender identity. We are an outgrowth of the Gay & Lesbian National Hotline, which began in 1996 and now is a primary program of the GLBT National Help Center.

http://www.redcross.org/
American Red Cross is the nation's premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters and has expanded its services, always with the aim of preventing and relieving suffering.

 http://www.ndvh.org/
National Domestic Violence Hotline- We believe that every caller deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. We believe that every family deserves to live in a world free from violence. We believe that safe homes and safe families are the foundation of a safe society.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Website-This website is a one-stop national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.

http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/
The National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD) aims to advance the clinical care and social welfare of U.S. Veterans through research, education and training on PTSD and stress-related disorders.

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the largest not-for-profit organization in the United States working to prevent eating disorders and provide treatment referrals to those suffering from anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder and those concerned with body image and weight issues.

http://www.theantidrug.com/
TheAntiDrug.com was created by the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign to equip parents and other adult caregivers with the tools they need to raise drug-free kids. Working with the nation's leading experts in the fields of parenting and substance abuse prevention, TheAntiDrug.com serves as a drug prevention information center, and a supportive community for parents to interact and learn from each other.

http://www.madd.org/
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) has a mission to stop drunk driving, support victims of violent crime, and prevent underage drinking.