Betsy Kammerud is a licensed clinical social worker providing clinical service to Hospice Savannah families for over eight years. One approach does not fit everyone on their grief journey. In this episode, Betsy shares her advice on how grieving families can build healthy coping mechanisms when dealing with a loss of a loved one.

Key Takeaways:

• A little bit about Betsy and her background in hospice.
• When someone passes, Betsy asks the family how they'd like to honor that person.
• When her husband passed, Susan decided to write a letter to Paul every night.
• People might believe at some point your grief is going to end. That's just not how that happens.
• We go through a wide range of emotions, not just the ones listed in the 5 stages of grief.
• Group therapy gets you into a room with people who get it.
• What are the five things Betsy wants people to remember during their grief journey?
• Give yourself permission to feel, even if it's happiness or sadness.
• There is so much loss of power when someone is dying.
• How can you regain your power in a healthy way?
• How can someone practice a 'grounding' exercise?
• If someone makes you feel awful when you're around them, stop hanging around them!
• You deserve to be surrounded by people who love and support you.
• Betsy offers three pieces of advice for people who are currently grieving.
• Even if you don't feel like it, eat something every day. Sleep when you can. Take care of yourself.
• Don't beat yourself up on the unknown and unchangeables.
• Honor your grief path, honor your connection with your loved one, honor yourself. Walk your own path.

Resources:

Hospicesavannah.org

Betsy on LinkedIn