Understanding Grief
How Families Change After Loss
Loss can and often does change everything in our lives, including our relationship with our family. Some of the changes are for the better, some are simply different but neutral and others are undeniably negative. In the years following a loss, family dynamics will continue to evolve—sometimes becoming more like they were before the loss,…
Read More
Is It Ever Okay or Possible to Move on?
If you’re dealing with a death of a loved one, the idea of “moving on” can feel insulting. It’s a phrase often associated with a break-up and implies emotional distance. But after a major loss, you will likely hear people talking about how you should move on. What does that mean, and is it even…
Read More
Creating a New Narrative After Loss
It’s a cliche to say that life is about the stories we tell ourselves—but there is a lot of truth to that. How we understand the things that happen to us and around us is determined largely by the narratives we create and repeat to ourselves. How we understand the trajectory of our lives depends…
Read More
Finding Strength and Resilience After Loss
After a major loss, it’s normal to find it hard to function for at least a short amount of time afterward. But even the most devastating loss can be an occasion for growth. For some people, the path towards resilience comes easily—usually people who both already had an optimistic mindset and who don’t see their…
Read More
When Will I Get Better After a Loss?
We like to fix things, including ourselves. If you’ve recently experienced a loss, you might be wondering when you’ll feel “normal” again. There is a short and long answer to this question: Research does show that most people start to see ‘acute grief’ symptoms decrease around the six-month mark after their loved one’s death. The…
Read More
What to Expect When Caring for a Parent
Nothing truly prepares you for caregiving. And when you become a caregiver for a parent, your life can feel far from normal. One of the last things you thought you might be doing was putting your life on hold to put your parent first. But when your parent is aging, losing their cognitive or physical…
Read More
Understanding Loss & Grief as a Caregiver
Being there for a loved one when they need us is a matter of both privilege and overwhelm. It feels rewarding to be able to serve your loved ones, but the role of a caregiver can often feel like an emotional rollercoaster. Caregiving can be isolating or demanding, straining on your limited resources (financial or…
Read More
If you make good choices, bad things won’t happen
One of the more insidious parts of our culture is a tendency to view almost everything as a result of our choices. For example, when good things happen to you, it means you made good choices… but when bad things happen, it’s your fault too. Everyone knows that bad choices can sometimes have consequences. But…
Read More
Grief and the Overachiever
One of the hardest things when writing about grief is that everyone’s experience of grief is so different, and depend on everything from the person’s temperament, life situation and their relationship with the person who died. If you’re used to excelling in life, however, grief can pose some specific challenges might not be as troubling…
Read More
Experiencing Grief for the First Time
Although most people will, at some point in their lives, experience the death of someone they love, the first major loss happens at a different time for everyone. Grief is still a taboo subject in our society, and many people have trouble finding someone to offer wisdom or advice about the grieving process. You might…
Read More