Give Grief A Chance

When it comes to loss and trauma, studies show that the body remembers and stores from our life experiences. Some believe that the mind might forget but the body never does. The truth is, our bodies speak to us all the time but the chances are, we might not hear those messages as it's usually in difficult times like when a significant loss happens to us that we begin to tune into it.

Setting healthy boundaries can be hard, but much of our health and general well-being depends on our ability to set and maintain good boundaries. At no time in life is that ability more necessary than during a time of grief, or being a caregiver to a loved one. Sadly, most of us don't think about boundaries and many people don't know what they are, but when you know and understand yourself, you'll know what limits feel appropriate for you.

The term ambiguous grief was coined by Pauline Boss PHD in the 1970's. Basically it is the grief experienced from the loss of someone who is still alive and for many it's when a loss is unresolved.

For some people grief can be a very hard and emotionally difficult experience and they may feel a wide range of emotions, while others may experience less intense emotions.However, we all have different expressions and ways to cope with loss and everyone does it in their own personal way. There's no right or wrong, and and no better or worse, your emotions are normal natural and unique to you.

What we believe usually dictates how we will feel, and most of us think our beliefs are right otherwise we would believe something else. Unfortunately, many people believe that being right is being happy however, that rightness can limit or restrict your happiness and it can impact your ability to recovery from a loss.

A death doula is someone who makes him or herself available to assist a dying individual and also help the family by providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support. The doula can help to relieve any anxiety and is usually one of the last people in the room helping with the transition from life to death.

For as long as we’ve lived, we have died and that we cannot deny. Another part of life is that we will at some point along the way all lose someone or something we love and we will grieve, no one escapes, it’s the inevitable. And yet, the subject of death, dying, grief and all its emotions is still taboo and for most people, a difficult subject to talk about.

As the end of the year approaches, so do the holidays. And for many it's a time when they experience the recurrence of grief, as they remember the happy times with a deceased loved one or an ex that they loved and deeply cared for. When grief shows up around this time, it can be very confusing and overwhelming.

Compassion fatigue is a broadly defined concept that can include emotional, physical, and spiritual distress in those providing care to another. It's also associated with caregiving where people and animals are experiencing significant emotional or physical pain and suffering. It has also been described as 'the cost of caring for others.'

Many disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, mudslides, or transportation accidents can be sudden and cause way more damage than reported. Therefore, it's important to understand your emotions and grief that follows a natural disaster in order for you to cope with those painful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, that show up.