Grief Digest Articles

A MemoirMy grandfather, Opa, wasn’t a demonstrative person. It was as if he spoke with his eyes. If you did something wrong, don’t think he wouldn’t know. He could stop you in your tracks with just one look. His eyes told you “That’s enough!” he didn’t have to say it. If you intended to do business with him and he shook your hand, it was as good as any binding contract. There never was a need for long drawn out written documents.When he shook your hand, you had to know how to let your fingers …

Sometimes, out of nowhere,the grief washes over me,like the ocean tidecovers the small stoneson the sandy beach.A thousand memories of herfight for recognitionas my mind becomes a movie projector gone mad.The tears flood my face.I am totally obliviousto space and time.All that I can feel,all that I am able to containin that particular moment,is that she is gone,and that I am alone,utterly and completely alone.I allow myself to sinkinto that moment,feeling it with everything I have.I know I mus …

My grief support system is current. Yes ___ No ___It includes family, friends, colleagues, spiritual/religious support. Yes ___ No ___There are people of varying ages in my support system. Yes ___ No ___Many of these people are role models. Yes ___ No ___I have similar interests to the people in my support system. Yes ___ No ___The people in my support system can act quickly. Yes ___ No ___Some people in my support system live close by. Yes ___ No ___I’ve explored back-up resources for my …

I was sitting at my son’s hockey game when I got a text from a client I hadn’t seen in a while. It didn’t take me long to figure out she might be in trouble. I said to her directly, “It sounds like you might be feeling suicidal.” Her response was, “Not tonight.” That indicated to me she was immediately safe, but has been at risk recently. We developed a plan for connection.Those are moments that I sometimes feel gripped with fear, wondering who in their right mind would be a counselor for a livi …

Some people will never understand the pain of losing a beloved pet. For those who feel the emotional depths of this type of loss, it can be confusing and frustrating to interact with people who for a variety of reasons, don’t get it. When I experienced pet death through natural causes or euthanasia, it was an emotionally difficult time because my pets are my children. I learned about pet grief through my own experiences and work as a psychotherapist, which I will share in this article.A disenfra …