Grief Digest Articles

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 childhood e …

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 …

By Camille Johnson Grief doesn’t just come in tears or silence. Sometimes it arrives as racing thoughts, a pounding chest, or the sudden need to leave a room. For many people, anxiety is how grief expresses itself. It can be erratic, physical, and overwhelming. These aren’t episodes of “being dramatic.” They’re real, somatic alarms from a nervous system struggling to recalibrate after loss. The line between sadness and fear blurs fast. That’s why preventing an …

By Tim Schramm, Licensed Funeral Director and National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) member As Grief Awareness Day approaches on August 30, I'm reminded of a fundamental truth I've witnessed countless times in my three decades as a funeral director: the families who struggle most with loss are often those who try to skip the very rituals designed to help them heal. Every week in our Detroit-area funeral homes, we facilitate grief support groups for 35 to 60 community members—not ju …

On Love, Grief, and What Remains By Heather Hattie-Mae Mahaney “Even stillness has weight. When it breaks, petals remember their edge.” When the quiet breaks, flowers will fall.The silence held like breath in a chapel—but even stillness has weight.When it breaks,petals remember their edge.The vase tips.Memory spills.And I—I gather what's leftfrom the floor of that moment. It began with a bouquet. Back when I worked at the engineering firm, my boss—a high-octane adre …