Grief Digest Articles

By Eileen Vorbach Collins Penguins travel and rest on rafts made of their collective bodies. On land, they huddle, constantly shifting, small steps, each taking its turn rotating into the warm middle. Sheltered. Protected. Held. When my daughter died, my heart hurt. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, my left ventricle ballooning into the shape of a Japanese octopus trap. Broken heart syndrome. Though most octopuses are solitary, some form communities. A tangle.  I longed to float away. With others b …

By Nan Zastrow AUTHOR’S NOTE:  Every fall, communities across the USA hold vigils and participate in the  Out Of Darkness or Suicide Prevention walks, to raise awareness and break the stigma of suicide. My husband and I proudly served on the Suicide Task Force for the same reasons. Three decades have passed since my son’s death by suicide, but my thoughts about my son’s death have not waivered. However, my perspective and what I’ve come to accept has.  D …

By Ruth Talbot The Little Things That Used to Annoy Me Cliff's snoring used to drive me mad. He was one of those infuriating people who could fall asleep within minutes of his head touching the pillow. Insomnia simply wasn't part of his world. Mine was very different. I've always needed quiet to drift off, and even the smallest sound can leave me lying awake, listening. So bedtime became a familiar ritual. The light would go out. For a few blissful moments there would be silence. Then his gentle …

By Nancy Harrison  Henry, the noble mutt who never knew a day of luxury but lived a lifetime of love, has been summoned to the great dog park in the sky. After sixteen years of unwavering loyalty, countless walks, and far too many stolen socks, he’s finally hanging up his leash. His human dad, Jesse—determined to be by Henry’s side for the grand farewell—is flying up from Fort Myers to Atlanta today. Tonight, they’ll share one last evening together, tho …

By Desiree Woodland Survivors of suicide loss become survivors against their will. For each person who dies by suicide there are 25 or more people left in grief’s wake. I tell my story to offer encouragement to those left behind who have found themselves on the hard road ahead towards becoming a survivor.  Screams I did not recognize pierced the air and sounded like an animal in pain, but they were mine. This could not be happening. Emergency vehicles with flashing lights surrounded m …