Millions of people daily work through their grief by sharing their thoughts with support groups, online forums and community service organizations. Talking through memories, verbalizing anger and sharing your sorrow have proven to be affective healing techniques for the bereaved. Bereavement specialists encourage the sharing of feelings, whether with a group or in a personal journal or online memorial to help talk through feelings and help remember the positive.
Below are several forums available for those looking to share their feelings or provide their support to others.
“It’s not about having the “right” thing to say. It’s about being present and being available.
There is a closeness that exists in having walked the same roads and faced the same fears.
This has been a huge part of my own process- connecting with others in similar circumstances. I cannot tell you how many people have come into my life that have also lost their dads. I am consistently meeting people who understand losing a parent, and there is comfort and safety in these relationships. It is impossible to feel isolated when you know there are others who face the same circumstances.” More
“Again, I cannot stress this enough, tell people what you need and be specific. If you have no idea what you need, then tell someone that you need help figuring it out.” More
“Anticipating the difficult time ahead, I planned a project for our first Fathers’ Day weekend. One day, looking at my late husband’s old work boots, I thought of planting succulents in them. From there the idea of a memorial garden began to take root in me. Before I knew it I lost a quarter of my back yard!” More
“I work in the helping profession. Every day I work with people in need; it is my life work. So how does one live with the knowledge that we could not be effective with the person who needed us the most? This thought weighed heavy on me for a very long time.” More
“If you are a victim of depression, let me say that you have found an understanding ear. I am 4th generation in a family torn apart by mental illness and since I married a man who suffered to his death with debilitating depressions, my children got the worst of both gene pools.” More
“When we lose someone, we often feel the weight and sadness that life brings. I thought this was a good poem to help remind us that life is worth living even in the darkest of days.This poem may cheer up someone you know who is having a hard time living after the death of a loved one”. More
