“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
- The Sermon on the Mount
- The Sermon on the Mount
Grief can be a slow, painful and disorienting process. Even when death is anticipated and expected, it may still stun us and it may take time for its reality and finality to set in. The delay in accepting this new reality is perfectly normal.
You may experience emotions during this time such as weeping, anger or despondency. Know that these are normal, healthy responses to loss. You may also experience a loss of appetite, loss of energy, or other physical symptoms, such as different sleeping habits. Grief is not only an emotional journey; it has a physical effect upon us as well. Keep your primary care physician informed of all these symptoms you are experiencing.
Reaching out for support and allowing ourselves to feel our feelings, and allowing one's grief to be witnessed by others is a step forward. I provide bereavement support at Hospice Compassus for families in our hospice service, but I also lead a 6-class psycho-educational grief support group offered four times per year that is open to the community.
Each person’s journey through the grief process is unique, as well as their support needs. Your grief is your own; no one else can determine how or how long you should grieve. However, there are many experiences that are similar in this process.
You may experience emotions during this time such as weeping, anger or despondency. Know that these are normal, healthy responses to loss. You may also experience a loss of appetite, loss of energy, or other physical symptoms, such as different sleeping habits. Grief is not only an emotional journey; it has a physical effect upon us as well. Keep your primary care physician informed of all these symptoms you are experiencing.
Reaching out for support and allowing ourselves to feel our feelings, and allowing one's grief to be witnessed by others is a step forward. I provide bereavement support at Hospice Compassus for families in our hospice service, but I also lead a 6-class psycho-educational grief support group offered four times per year that is open to the community.
Each person’s journey through the grief process is unique, as well as their support needs. Your grief is your own; no one else can determine how or how long you should grieve. However, there are many experiences that are similar in this process.
Basics
- Self-Care in Grief (click link to download pdf)
- Words that signal empathy vs words that don't (click link to download pdf)
- How to Care for a Grieving Friend
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Online Resources
(*NOTE: Resource for Children are in Green)
- David Kessler's Grief.com
- Megan Devine's Refuge in Grief
- The Dougy Center: The National Center for Grieving Children & Families
- Sibling Grief Online Support Group
- PDF: Native Americans: Dealing & Healing from Grief & Loss
- PDF: Alcohol & Grief (short article)
- PDF: Grief and Bereavement
- PDF: Bereavement Resource Manual (has handy "Scripts" on conversing with children - p. 10-19)
- PDF: How Children Grieve and How Parents and Other Adults Can Support Them
- PDF: Helping Children When A Loved One is Dying (CGC)
- PDF: Developmental Characteristics of Children's Understanding of Death
- PDF: Grief Workbook
- PDF: Bereavement Journal for Adults
Resources in Albuquerque
- Grief Resource Center
- Children's Grief Center
- Grief Support Groups in Albuquerque
- New Mexico Crisis Line 1-855-NMCRISIS (662-7474)
Poems & Prayers
Hiring a Therapist
- How to Find a Therapist (article on professional labels, background, education)
- Psychology Today Search Tool OR Good Therapy Search Tool
- Questions to ask a therapist
- Questions to ask a therapist before your first appointment
- Questions to ask yourself before you officially hire a therapist
New Perspectives
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