Photo by Jerry Fenter, The Heart of Hospice
During the past month The Heart of Hospice podcast has been giving you grief.
The good kind.
We’ve talk about how grief looks different for everybody and how certain groups have special grief needs. As Jerry said on the podcast – grief is an individual as fingerprints.
Your grief response can be influenced by so many things – gender, birth order, culture, age, past experience with death, life choices, military service, faith beliefs.
Even when you share a lot of things in common with someone (like a sibling or other family member), you’re each going to grieve in your own way. There’s not a wrong way to do grief.
Don’t misunderstand – there are unhealthy ways to grieve. That’s different. Complicated grief reactions that result in unhealthy behaviors need special care. Professional counselors can provide the extra help that’s needed when a complicated grief response persists. Feelings of depression or self harm need immediate intervention by experienced clinicians.
What are some of the things you might experience during your period of grief?
Feeling emotional, tearful
Intermittent moments of happiness and sadness, the “roller coaster”
Anger at the person you lost, or your Higher Power for taking the person away from you
Feeling distracted or unfocused, in a fog
Isolation, feeling misunderstood
The full podcast for September 2018 features a discussion with our friend Chuck Olliff. Chuck has many years experience as an LPC (licensed professional counselor) specializing in grief counseling. He’s warm, friendly, and funny. Our interview with Chuck spanned a wide range of issues associated with grief. I learned a lot just from talking with him. You can check out our time with Chuck on the podcast by clicking here.
If you’re grieving a loss, remember that you’re not alone. There’s someone out there who will listen and provide you with the support and care you need. Find a friend or a counselor to talk with you. You’re not crazy and it’s not permanent. Contact a local hospice or funeral home in your area to find out about community grief support groups.
And as always, take care of your Self.
No matter who you are, or where you are in your hospice journey, You are the Heart of Hospice.