Grief Digest Articles

What is grief? The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) defines it as “the normal response of sorrow, emotion, and confusion that comes from losing someone or something important to you. It is a natural part of life. Grief is a typical reaction to death, divorce, job loss a move away from family and friends, or loss of good health due to illness.” Some other causes of grief can be the loss of a pet, the loss of a sense of security and safety – due to an abusive situation, an …

In 2007 four family members died: my elder daughter, father-in-law, brother, and former son-in-law. My daughter Helen was the mother of my twin grandchildren (one boy, one girl) and died from the injuries she received in a car crash. The twins’ father died from the injuries he received in another crash. His death made our grandkids orphans and my husband and me guardians. Suddenly, we were GRGs, grandparents raising grandchildren.The twins were 15 years old when they moved in with us. We couldn’ …

My husband Eric was intensely fond of quail. His tattered copy of Margaret Stanger’s book That Quail, Robert sits on my shelf. Having spent many summers on Cape Cod, he was familiar with the northern bobwhite, the subject of the book. The male has a bright white and black head pattern which differs from its cousin the Gambel’s quail—a slightly smaller bird with a flurry of black feathers atop its gray, chestnut, and cream colored body. Eric’s delight at seeing a Gambel’s quail for the first time …

By Elaine E. Stillwell, M.A., M.S.Getting Back to Work is a tough transition for many parents following the death of their child. Worried about feeling strong enough, being able to concentrate, controlling crying, talking to people, leaving the safe haven of home, along with not wanting to lose their job or a paycheck, are all weighty factors these heartbroken parents must consider as they decide when to return to work, which involves reentering an accustomed social environment as a changed pers …

Thirty years ago, July 12, 1986, a young 29 year old New York City cop, Steven McDonald, was shot and wounded by a troubled teenager while on duty in Central Park, becoming paralyzed from the neck down, and defying medical predictions that he would survive. Instantly, the life of this man, his bride of a year, and the baby they were expecting, were all changed forever.Since Steven McDonald grew up in my hometown, lived within 3 miles of my home and worshipped at my parish church, his story deepl …