No Pill Can Fix This Grief can be uncomfortable, but it's important to remember that your grief is specific and personal. You might feel self-conscious or think you're not "doing it right" when there are no rules for how somebody should grieve - just as with any other life event! The best thing we could do during these moments of discomfort would probably lie on letting go so we don't get caught up worrying about what other people say instead thinking only about ourselves Grief, like any other emotion is personal. We all have our own way of dealing with it and feeling uncomfortable in the process but there’s nothing wrong if you're not "doing" anything right because this feels incredibly authentic to who we are as individuals - even though sometimes hard for others around us (or ourselves) Hey, if you’ve been feeling down lately and need someone to talk too - our Facebook Support Group for women is open! We can help. https://www.facebook.com/groups/hope.heal.recover

When Professional Get Grief Wrong

When people experience the death of a loved one, they may feel that their world has come to an end. This can lead them into feelings such as anger and depression which are all very common in those going through grief though it's important not just for yourself but also other friends or family members who love you dearly when dealing with these tough moments -It’s normal at times feeling angry because your whole life changed right before your eyes - Some might say "I'm coping well" however what this really means maybe more along lines. The loss of a person does not give you the right to be mean. Human decency and respect for others still apply, even if it's difficult sometimes. Hey, if you’ve been feeling down lately and need someone to talk too - our Facebook Support Group for women is open! We can help. https://www.facebook.com/groups/hope.heal.recover

Can You Blame Grief for Bad Behavior

Funerals are not the only way to remember someone after they pass away. There’s a lot of alternatives these days- from memorial services and other creative expressions, all the way down to no funeral at all! The truth is there really any set rule for what you should do when it comes time plan your send off in life; so many different options exist just waiting on one person's preferences or ideas about how best commemorate their legacy. The death of a loved one is always an emotional time for the whole family. There are no rules when it comes to planning their funeral, so you can choose whatever option suits your needs best - whether they were traditional in nature before their passing What kind of ceremony would be fitting?&nbsp; Some families prefer elaborate services with lots of honor guards and flowers while others may only want quiet prayers offered up by friends at graveside; still other folks might have something radical like sky burial where someone throws dirt onto them self-shot video rather than having any sort formalities whatsoever! Hey, if you’ve been feeling down lately and need someone to talk too - our Facebook Support Group for women is open! We can help. https://www.facebook.com/groups/hope.heal.recover

There Are No Rules in Grief Planning

&nbsp; &nbsp; The key to healing from emotional wounds is to be able to release the pain from those wounds. The number one way to do this is to call it by its correct name.&nbsp; Grief &nbsp;  When you’re hurt, your body responds by  producing hormones and neurotransmitters which affect your emotions. &nbsp;~ Your heart hurts. &nbsp;  The tendency is to keep thinking about what  happened to you. This causes your brain to produce more hormones and neurotransmitters, resulting in greater anxiety and depression. &nbsp;  The emotions which resulted from what  happened also continue the cycle. &nbsp; To stop this cycle, you’ll need to access your inner power, release the past, and form your new future. moving forward. &nbsp; There isn't a person in the world who hasn't been hurt by someone. Releasing the pain from these wounds are difficult for many, if not most.  &nbsp;

Trauma Response

In 2006, I lost Austin. The grief from his loss was beyond belief. I could not breathe and there were days when I didn’t get out of bed. I did not think that I would ever live again. &nbsp; The Erica from that day is forever gone.&nbsp; I am not sure who she was and now as I think about that day, I know that I am a stronger, funnier, and yes sometimes sadder version of her. &nbsp; So many people kept telling me to just give it time. But this was not helpful for me. How much time? WOULD giving it time help? I remember hearing that one never gets over the death of one’s child. I was starting to believe that was true. I thought my life would be like this forever.... &nbsp; The truth is that the Erica from June 17, 2006, we will never see her again.&nbsp; I not only had to do my grief work I also have done the much-needed work on the old Erica.&nbsp;&nbsp; You hear Sharon and I say all the time that there are layers to grief.&nbsp; Losing who you once were is a layer of loss my friend.&nbsp; All layers of the grief pain and loss must be grieved for true healing. &nbsp;  &nbsp;

Grieving Who I Was Before My Loss

We get this question all of the time.&nbsp; How do I support my sister while she is grieving?&nbsp; I do not know what to do... Just show up for the grievier.&nbsp; Show up as the person that you would want to be your support if you were the griever.&nbsp; Show up as the amazing person that did show up for you when your loss occured.&nbsp;&nbsp; Supporting the griever is most likely one of the most important things you will do in your life. &nbsp;I considered the support that I was giving Erica so powerful. &nbsp;I called her every day. &nbsp;I wanted to be the resource for her if she needed to talk. &nbsp;Yet, I was making a big mistake. &nbsp;I was not allowing my grief to release. &nbsp;I was not allowing my pain to surface. &nbsp;One of the things that Erica and I teach is processing the pain in your heart. &nbsp;Unfortunately, I was so busy taking care of her I did not acknowledge it. So many times, that I called her, she would cry or just tell the story of her brokenness. &nbsp;She thought I was helping her, but the truth was I was judging my level of pain by how she was doing that day. &nbsp;I needed to hear her voice just as she needed to hear mine.

Just Show Up

The Joy of the Season and Grief When we lose someone we love, our hearts struggle on a daily basis to figure out how to navigate our world without them. When the holidays roll around, our hearts are on overload because everywhere we turn, we are reminded that this is a time for family, for love, and for being together. This holiday season will be particularly hard on all grievers because we now have to contend with our broken hearts as well. Your traditions and norms are already being challenged because of our loss, and now we are forced figure out how to spend the holiday. In the first months after the death of someone important to you, you may struggle with enjoying yourself. Many grieving people are unable to laugh, sing, or celebrate in any way. The truth is that it is hard enough to be missing them, and now we have to go to a party and pretend we are having fun or enjoying ourselves. The amount of pain you are currently feeling and the fact that you are missing all the family events does not mean that you do not love them. We know that your emotions are like a rollercoaster going up and down. But here’s the deal—it is okay to have a laugh. It is okay to share a story about the one you lost. It is okay to cry when talking about them. All of these are good things and they do not make you a bad person. It is even okay to go to a family party and enjoy everyone’s company. It your decision which events to attend and which ones not to because the truth is that wherever you go, you will be carrying your broken heart with you. Do keep this in mind—if you are around people you love you will be able to, we trust, laugh, cry, and even share a jolly story with them.

How Do I Celebrate The Holidays Without You

Processing the pain from grief means allowing yourself to feel the pain, honestly communicating about how bad it feels and acting. &nbsp;You must be an active participant in your grief and come to your own aide because there is no one out there who can save you. &nbsp;You must be your own hero. You cannot get over the pain that is a true misconception, you have to go through the pain to get to the other side, which is recovery. &nbsp;As soon as I started to allow myself to feel the pain and the tears to come, I started healing. &nbsp;I also had to tell my truth about how bad I was feeling and not hide from my real feelings. &nbsp; More importantly you must use your healing tools for the rest of your life. &nbsp;Grief will never be one and done. &nbsp;

Life Is Not Sunshine And Rainbows

Grief is ugly. Grief hurts. Grief will bring out the worst in you. Grief will bring out the worst in people around you. We were not taught how to grieve properly. Most of the people that have gone before you on this journey will still tell you that they never figured it out. But they will give us the worst advice ever..."I Know How You Feel My...Just Died" Please know that telling a griever that you know how they feel because you have just had your cat die is one of the most disrespectful things that we can say to a griever. Just sit with them and listen.&nbsp; The trust is you do not know how their heart feel.&nbsp; You only know your own pain.&nbsp; Now is not the time to share your pain.

I Know How You Feel

When our losses first occurred, we had family and friends descend upon us like a sea of people. &nbsp; Although I appreciated their concern their presence was very overwhelming, and I found myself sitting alone on my front porch in search of a quiet place where I could be left with my pain. After a loss occurs the pain is so unbearable it seems only natural that you would want to isolate yourself and be alone. At times, that can be comforting because it’s hard to be around people when you’re hurting, especially if you think they do not understand how bad you feel. But the comfort of isolating can easily become a routine and before you know it, you’re cut off from everyone around you. &nbsp; Don’t let that happen to you. &nbsp;Find ways to communicate what it is you’re needing form your inner circle.&nbsp;

I Know How You Feel

Sharon and Erica