"Christine and Janie. Thank you both for your comments
Bluebell"
Online Grief Support - A Social Community
Don't grieve alone; 13,000 members and growing
We are eternal beings who will never be separated from our loved ones. ~ R. Craig Hogan, Ph.D.
About
Diana Young, RD, LD, GC-C
Rituals To Commemorate
Rituals are effective and meaningful when they have significance to the deceased and to the survivor. The following are merely suggestions and might be altered and enhanced to appropriately accommodate the relationship involved.
- Prepare a favorite meal of the loved one and enjoy it as he/she did.
- Prepare a favorite dessert – share with family or friends.
- Watch a movie(s) enjoyed by your loved one.
- Plant flowers, a tree or a flowering bush in…
Recommended Book by David Kessler
Visions, Trips, and Crowded Rooms: Who and What You See Before You Die
David Kessler, expert on death and grief, takes on three uniquely shared experiences that challenge our ability to explain and fully understand the mystery of our final days. The first is “visions". As the dying lose sight of this world, some people appear to be looking into the world to come.…
Typical responses associated with Grief
- Reduced concentration
- A sense of numbness
- Disrupted sleeping patterns
- Changed eating habits
- Emotional Roller coaster
Have you experienced the death of a spouse in the past five years?
Have you experienced the death of a spouse in the past five years?
Are you between the ages of 18-64? If so, researchers from the University of Illinois are interested in hearing your story. We are conducting interviews with individuals who have recently lost a spouse. Interested participants will engage in an audio-recorded interview about their experiences with loss. Interviews will take approximately 45–90 minutes and will remain confidential. Participants who are U.S. citizens,…
Healthy Self Care
Developing a healthy self-care practice is an essential part of active grieving. Self-care in all its forms - physical, spiritual, intellectual and psychological - is at the very heart of purposeful grieving. As you're committed to growing through this experience of loss - of becoming more than you were before the passing of your loved one, not less - I offer you these self-care tips and ideas:
- Surround yourself with things that help you feel…
Useful Links
One year of writing and healing at a glance
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Healing with Pictures
I wanted to share an idea of what we can do with pictures of our loved ones. Nancy Gershman, a digital artist, creates meaningful portraits from photos, memories and stories that we think about every day. Here is a sample of her work:
DREAMSCAPE PHOTOMONTAGE: Myrtle pays homage to the memory of her twin and keeps a promise to her sister. As long as she lives she will keep her nephew - who is a trucker - safe on the road.
ORIGINAL PHOTO: 
I know Nancy's work and I’ve seen how she captures the entire essence of a person and the real truth about their character, their passions and their mission in life.
What Nancy does is digest all these photos, memories and stories until they re-emerge as a holistic portrait of the person you love. You see your father, sister, or beloved poodle, thoughtfully placed into a beautiful legacy portrait for you, but also for generations to come. The end result is that her artwork makes you smile or even laugh.
For the 30 - 60 minutes you spend with her by phone, she delivers a meaningful, heartfelt fine art photomontage in the form of an 8 x 10 print (or enlargement). She can also upload the artwork so you can make something to wear or display (photoblanket, photo-purse, photo trivet, etc.) -- however you want to keep that loved one close by.
I encourage you to view the documentary on Nancy Gershman’s work.
You can visit her website: www.artforyoursake.com/healing. She has provided us with her phone number: 773-255-4677 (EST) or you can email her: nancy@artforyoursake.com
Let me know if you have any questions.
SPAM/Privacy/Suicide Prevention
1. SPAM IS NOT TOLERATED ON OUR GRIEF SITE. However, if you have a product or service that is helpful, please feel free to post information. It must be pertinent to grief counseling/helping others, for instance aromatherapy, guided imagery, healing with pictures, journaling, etc.
2.If you have posted your full name, please go to settings and change your name. Privacy is important for all of you.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Phone Number
1-800-273-8255
Journal Therapy and After Death Communication
Online Grief Support uses the blog feature for Journal Therapy – You can choose to make it private or public. Blog posts are a great way to express yourself on your profile page. To get started, go to your profile page and locate the "Blog Posts" module in the middle column. Click the "Add a Blog Post" link. You must join the community to take advantage of Journal Therapy – It’s free.
You can add text, links, images, and files to your blog post using the blog editor toolbar. You can also select the privacy of your blog post to allow anyone in the community to view it, just your friends in the community, or just you. Go to Settings and then click on Privacy. If you need help, I'm just an email away. - Diana
Forum
FINALLY LOSING IT 2 Replies
Started by Richard Rivera in Untitled Category. Last reply by Richard Rivera yesterday.
intamacy after devastating loss of only child
Started by julia shvekky in Untitled Category on Sunday.
WHERE AM I? WHEN DOES IT END? 4 Replies
Started by Richard Rivera in Untitled Category. Last reply by Richard Rivera Aug 7.
Social anxiety after loved on dies 9 Replies
Started by Keleigh in Untitled Category. Last reply by Keleigh Aug 12.
Are We Alone? 22 Replies
Started by Brett Bowman in Untitled Category. Last reply by MIchael Ortiz Aug 11.
Blog Posts
Lost my Son -only child in March of this year
Hello -My name is Karen. I lost my only son at 22 years of age in a car accident in March of this year. I am doing "okay" considering. I have strong bouts of intense grief on and off and of course I miss and long for him daily. It really just SUCKS! I have surrounded my self with a support group and a Psychotherapist. I have also started to explore my Spirituality and looking for unanswered to questions to my existence and purpose. I welcome anyone that would like to share their…
ContinuePosted by Karen Wilson on August 21, 2017 at 9:01am — 2 Comments
Repost: Is It Wrong to Grieve?
Is It Wrong to Grieve?
Have you ever had a brief bout with illness? Perhaps you recovered so quickly that you have practically forgotten the episode. Well, grief is not like that. “There is no such thing as ‘getting over’ grief,” writes Dr. Alan Wolfelt in his book Healing a Spouse’s Grieving Heart. However, he adds: “Over time and with the support of others, your grief will soften.”…
Continue I lost My Mom
I lost my Mom on July 25th of this year(2017) 6 years after my Dad. I don't understand why I cant cry, I mean I know its a complicated process when things don't go as planned. My Mom spent some much time in and out of the hospital the last 15 years; every time was "the time" but then she would rally and be shopping days later. I admit I thought she would live forever, or at least longer than me so I never really saw this day coming. Still I…
ContinuePosted by Angela on August 14, 2017 at 10:05am — 5 Comments
Don't worry!
Since my mom died in May, I haven't been to church except maybe two weeks after she died and then the pain of her death was still so fresh (it still is, as it'll be 3 months since she died next Thursday), I couldn't stay for the whole service. I packed up my things and left. I felt completely alone, yet I did not want to be around anyone. I felt that if I stayed I would've just started bawling and wouldn't be able to stop.
Today, was the first time I've been to church in months and…
Continue
Drowning...
I can't do this anymore. I don't know what's wrong with me. But I feel like I'm lost. Like I'm drowning again. I thought things were getting better, that I was finally learning to handle my emotions, that I was coping. But now I'm right back where I was a year ago. I just want to curl up in a corner somewhere and cry myself to sleep. Over and over again. Nothing's changed, nothing's happened. And that's the worst part, knowing that it's coming from within. That I'm doing this to myself. I just… Continue
Posted by Bethany on August 13, 2017 at 11:37am — 2 Comments
And So it Begins.
My heart is hurting so badly right now. I feel blindsided, although I know I should not have been, I should have seen it coming. But I was trying so hard, for one because my husband would want me to and for another I felt it was the right thing to do.
My husband and I have not had anything to do with his…
Continue BE CAREFUL.FAKE CONTACTS IN HERE.
I HAD SOMEONE TRYING TO CONTACT ME FROM GHANA.HER NAME IS KATE KWAME. I SAW HER ONLINE LAST NIGHT.I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS. I AM GRIEVEING FOR MY WIFE AND THESE PEOPLE DO THIS.
Posted by MIchael Ortiz on August 12, 2017 at 4:13pm — 4 Comments
ANOTHER LONG NIGHT.
Since my wife past I cannot sleep. I lay in bed like she is still next to me. I miss her kiss goodnight and the one before she left for work. I am broken inside and have no clue in how to repair me. As I wrote before I do this alone. Yes I am angry at people. I would never make false promises because I am a man of my word. She made me so happy. I wish I dream about her so I could see her. So many people fail me. So I guess I know there true colors. Its really sucks to find out this way…
ContinuePosted by MIchael Ortiz on August 12, 2017 at 3:23am
My life has change and I cannot just smash my way out of pain.
I lost my wife Jodi on June 16th. At the time it was like any night but change quickly. Before I knew it I was back home alone cleaning up stuff left by the EMT`S. It then hit me. I was like this is a dream but my heart knew.I did not know I could cry like that. Then it began the start answers that I could not be given truly and people just asking how over and over. I could not hear there words and did not know what to do next.I knew my wife wishes because we talk about it here and there.…
ContinuePosted by MIchael Ortiz on August 11, 2017 at 3:40am
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Groups
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I miss my Mom!
687 members
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Lost My Spouse...
313 members
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Traumatic, Sudden Loss
927 members
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Being the Other Woman/Ot…
16 members
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Losing Someone to Drug O…
62 members
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daddy
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Grief Counseling
116 members
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Has your faith been test…
35 members
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Losing Someone to Cancer
577 members
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Multiple Losses Group
275 members
Latest Activity
Janie m Snitko commented on Karen's group I miss my Mom!"Hi everyone! Today was a stressful day for me. I found a great website it is called Soul Proof .com. Bluebell I thought about you as I was reading different things on after death experiences. Both times my daughter and I have been together in…"
JO B commented on Mike H.'s blog post Repost: Is It Wrong to Grieve?"no
its ok 2 grief evn ifs its a 50 yrs its still ok evn 80 yrs its ok no 1 shud tell pele 2 not giref its not lk a op or bandge u can tak off its not griefs 1 thng u ca n not heal
sorry if im sayin wong thngs heat
sorry abot yore loss 2"
Christine Ford commented on Julie Dolsey-Weiss's group Traumatic, Sudden Loss"I'm new to the group. In November 2015 my Mom & Dad were cutting a tree branch in their backyard and the branch fell on my Mom and killed her. I am numb some days. I just try to focus on how wonderful my mom was, not how…"
Christine Ford commented on Karen's group I miss my Mom!"Bluebell, thank you for posting the comment about having a mother that loved you, food to eat, and your family. I too am luck to have/have had those things. Your comment reminded me of what I have to be thankful for. Christine"
Christine Ford joined Karen's group
I miss my Mom!
If you have that hole in your heart that you get when you lose the woman that you shared a body with....
BLUEBELL commented on Karen's group I miss my Mom!"Thank you Theresa. It is hard for me to accept I am still grieving her loss so much. But I am still going to try and inch forward little by little and have more "okay" times. I think my Mom would want that. I can not stay in this…"
Theresa commented on Karen's group I miss my Mom!"Bluebell, grieving is a normal part of life and death, you are only 6 months into it, please don't expect too much, I am now almost two years and I still am trying to accept the fact of what happened and how fast it occurred. Some days I…"
Joy commented on Karen Wilson's blog post Lost my Son -only child in March of this year"Karen, I just want to offer my sincere sympathy in losing your son. While I'm grieving my mom's death, and our situations are completely different, I do know what grief is and can relate on that point. I'm glad you are getting the…"
BLUEBELL commented on Karen's group I miss my Mom!"I am grateful I had a mother that loved me
I am grateful I have a roof over my head and food to eat
I am grateful for my family"
BLUEBELL commented on Karen's group I miss my Mom!"I am blessed to have my sister. But I also realize that she is going through a bad time too and it would not be fair to her to burden her with all the negativity that is going through my mind. With that being said, I am going to try and be more…"
Brett Bowman commented on Karen's group I miss my Mom!"Bluebell, I will pray for you as well. I understand.
Theresa, that is one of the most beautiful things about Catholicism. Sitting in adoration of the sacrament is an incredible blessing.
Bluebell, you wrote something that was very telling. You have…"
LoveGoli replied to Maxey's discussion Moved, but nothing changes in the group Lost My Spouse..."You are lucky that you spent 55 years, but I had only 3years and the pain is getting worse day by day. Moving from one place to another does not help because you can not remove that person from your heart.
Same feeling I am having which you…"
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