Grief Digest Articles

© Jason Tuttle, February 26, 2024 --------------------------------------- Stressed. Depressed. Emotions Confessed. Society wants my feelings suppressed. My grief on the daily is a jumbled mess. ------------ Life is grief contaminated. My world view is now very jaded. Simple things have me irritated. How I, the man, should act is debated. My need for you will never, ever be satiated. ------------ What I feel comes in stages. The stress of the “new norm” quickly ages. When I feel …

By Barbara Dwyer-Heidkamp, LMHC  No Matter What Happens, Please Don’t Forget the Children. Tools to support Children in Grief and Loss. I am often curious about what leads an individual to a particular profession. Is it tradition, adult modeling, or perhaps childhood experience? When I first met my therapist, what I resonated with most was not only her kindness and openness but also her ability to validate my feelings and experiences without making me feel ashamed. Many months into bu …

By Hilda Villaverde I met Joe when I was thirty-five and he was forty-two. We married seven years later and divorced after ten years of marriage. Our friendship of forty years never ended until his passing a few weeks ago. Ours was a unique relationship of healing until the end.  Joe was a quiet private man. An only child, born in Kentucky and raised by his German grandmother while his father served in World War II and mother worked for the Red Coss, he earned degrees in engineering and bec …

By Keith Bettinger I didn’t know how much I loved her until she didn’t hand me my cup of coffee. I didn’t know how much I loved her until she played with the kids while I slept. I didn’t know how much I loved her until no one laughed at my jokes any more. I didn’t know how much I loved her until I had to make dinner for the kids and me. I didn’t know how much I loved her until I had to do the laundry. I didn’t know how much I loved her until I had to sit …

Deborah Kourgelis, LCSW, LCADC I recently read a quote by Amy Poehler, which said, “It’s never overreacting to ask for what you want and need.” I first thought of the hundreds of clients I have counseled in my practice as a grief therapist, especially women, who have felt judged by society as being “too emotional” when they express feelings, make requests, or stand up for themselves.   Human beings lack authority for so many reasons, including adverse chil …