Like Prince Harry, one in thirteen US children – 5.6 million, or 7.7% – will experience the death of a parent or sibling before age 18. This 2022 calculation from the Children’s Bereavement Estimation Model marks an increase of 700,000 since it was first developed in 2018, reflecting higher death rates among people aged 27-46 from multiple… Continue reading What 5.6 million Young Americans Have in Common with Prince Harry – and Why It Matters
Tag: grief
Managing Grief Over the Holidays
Life is tough. Grief is painful. We all know this. And in no way do I ever want to diminish the intensity and genuineness of hard times. The holiday season especially resonates as a time of assumed joy and jolly while there so often is a looming emotion of grief, mourning, and worried hearts. Grief… Continue reading Managing Grief Over the Holidays
How to Help a Grieving Friend
At some point in our life, most of us have to learn to cope with the loss of a loved one. Companions on the grief journey—especially for the first few years after loss—make a huge difference. Sadly, most of us don’t know what to say to a friend who is grieving, or what we can… Continue reading How to Help a Grieving Friend
Coping with Grief Over Lost Opportunities and Connections During a Pandemic
Grief is a common topic I am seeing in my therapy patients and first, we have to know we have permission to grieve during the pandemic and grief comes in many forms. Grief ranges from disappointment and sadness to frustration and anger. People are disappointed by having to reschedule events like weddings, sad about not… Continue reading Coping with Grief Over Lost Opportunities and Connections During a Pandemic
Coping with Grief During the Holidays
It’s never easy dealing with the loss of a loved one, but it can be especially difficult during the holiday season. Some people find solace spending time celebrating with friends and family while others may feel uncomfortable doing so. There is no right or wrong way to handle the holidays, and there is help available… Continue reading Coping with Grief During the Holidays
How to Handle a Loss
Loss is part of life. We all suffer from it at some point and in some way. Death and divorce are among the most obvious, but we also can experience loss of hope, approval, aspirations, friendship, social standing and trust, among many other examples. Like the ensuing grief it brings, loss is unique to the… Continue reading How to Handle a Loss
Don’t Speak: The “Censorship” of Grief
“Don’t speak I know what you’re saying So please stop explaining Don’t tell me cause it hurts” “Don’t Speak”, song and lyrics by Eric Stefani and Gwen Stefani When advising the bereaved (be it in-person or in writing), one of my most oft-repeated teachings is encouraging them to talk about their loss – their feelings,… Continue reading Don’t Speak: The “Censorship” of Grief
Grief Shaming: The Latest Form of Bereavement Judgment
Blame it on the ability to remain anonymous, on people who have very small lives or a combination thereof. In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in varying sorts of public “shaming” – weight shaming (be it “over” or “under”); height shaming, financial shaming, social status shaming, a certain kind of shaming that… Continue reading Grief Shaming: The Latest Form of Bereavement Judgment
Recognizing and Speaking the “Language” of Grief
After ten years, hundreds of thousands of letters and emails and untold stories of every manner of loss imaginable, it is readily apparent that much of the lack of understanding, miscommunication and potential destruction of relationships after loss boils down to one very simple premise: Everyone speaks his or her own grief “language”. Moreover and… Continue reading Recognizing and Speaking the “Language” of Grief
Broken Heart Syndrome: It Is a “Thing”
We have all seen the stories many times. A couple who were married for decades die within days, hours or even minutes of one another. Siblings who enjoyed a deep bond throughout their lives pass away in shockingly close proximity to one another. A recent story tells of a gentleman who died less than 24… Continue reading Broken Heart Syndrome: It Is a “Thing”
Attack of the Grief Monster
There is a “monster” who quietly lurks among those who have suffered a loss and are bereaved. It is stealthy and sneaky and pounces when we both most and least expect it. As with most “monsters”, this one appears in the quiet and lonely of night. However, this particular monster can strike during the daytime… Continue reading Attack of the Grief Monster
Age Alters Immune Response to Grief
Young people have a more robust immune response to the loss of a loved one, according to new research from the University of Birmingham in the UK, providing insight into how different generations cope with loss. The study, published in September 2014 the journal Immunity and Ageing, shows how the balance of our stress hormones… Continue reading Age Alters Immune Response to Grief