Archive for the ‘Coping with Grief’ Category
Wednesday, December 4th, 2019
The holidays are a crazy time of year, and the madness seems to start earlier as the years go by. We cannot even make it through Halloween these days before Christmas items start to appear widely in stores. I just want to scream, “Stop! It’s too soon!” And if you’re grieving a loss this holiday season, the days ahead probably seem even more stressful than usual. Keep reading to find some tips to simplify your plans – and help reduce holiday grief stress.
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Tags: coping with holiday grief, quiet and solitude, reduce holiday stress, simplify, surrender expectations
Posted in Coping with Grief, Decisions and choices, Holidays, anniversaries, special occasions, Needs of grievers, Stunned by Grief | Comments Off on Simplify – Tips to Help Grievers Reduce Holiday Stress
Tuesday, August 15th, 2017
Grief is messy and confusing. It’s all-consuming. And it’s unlike anything else you’ve been through. Here’s where the ‘U’ word comes in. When the ‘U’ word is missing grievers suffer, and their loved ones do, too. (more…)
Tags: help with grief, how to help grievers, misunderstandings about grief, understanding grief, what to expect, why understanding matters
Posted in Coping with Grief, Decisions and choices, How to help grievers, Needs of grievers, Stunned by Grief | 2 Comments »
Friday, July 28th, 2017
The ‘J’ word that devastates grievers is something you probably would not intentionally do. But you might unconsciously allow it to sneak in and influence what you think, do, or say. (more…)
Tags: appearances are deceptive, breaks from grief, grief and shame, judging devastates grievers, relief during grief, smiles are okay
Posted in Coping with Grief, Effects of Grief, Emotions, How to help grievers, Stunned by Grief | 2 Comments »
Thursday, December 15th, 2016
Holiday grief – two words that, when placed together, have the power to bring tears, fear, anger, pain, sadness, love, and a host of other responses. Knowing the power and effect of those two words, if you’re grieving, how do you deal with holiday grief? (more…)
Tags: communication, coping with holidays, follow your heart, holiday grief, holiday stress, joy alongside grief
Posted in Coping with Grief, Decisions and choices, Emotions, Holidays, anniversaries, special occasions, Stunned by Grief | 2 Comments »
Monday, October 3rd, 2016
This one should be pretty easy to figure out. The ‘O’ word that hits grievers is a common reaction to grief. (more…)
Tags: attitude and grief, don't be a victim in grief, grieving process, relieving stress in grief, surviving versus thriving after loss, what you do in grief, when you're overwhelmed
Posted in Adjustments, Attitude, Changes, Coping with Grief, Decisions and choices, Effects of Grief, Emotions, How to help grievers, Stunned by Grief | Comments Off on The ‘O’ Word that Hits Grievers—and What to Do about It
Thursday, August 25th, 2016
What is the ‘I’ word you never expected with grief? Is it ‘indecision?’ No, that’s not surprising. So many things changed along with your loss – so indecision on your part is not unexpected. How about being ‘incapacitated?’ Well, you certainly may feel weakened or powerless in the face of your loss, but that’s not unexpected either. (more…)
Tags: adjustments with grief, changes with grief, healing from grief, isolation with grief, rebuilding your life
Posted in Adjustments, Changes, Coping with Grief, Effects of Grief, Emotions, Remapping, Stunned by Grief | Comments Off on The ‘I’ Word You Never Expected with Grief
Thursday, August 11th, 2016
What’s the ‘A’ word no one wants to face in grief? And what’s the ‘A’ word those of us who have been through grief have had to wrestle with, time and again? Who anticipated so many unexpected surprises, upsets, and fears associated with this word?
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Tags: adjustments, change, grief healing, remap and renew after loss, unexpected changes, what to expect
Posted in Adjustments, Changes, Coping with Grief, Decisions and choices, Stunned by Grief | Comments Off on The ‘A’ Word No One Wants to Face in Grief
Monday, July 18th, 2016
How many of us have wondered, “Is there a shortcut through grief?” – and desperately wished that somehow, some way, we’d discover that quicker way. (more…)
Tags: changes with grief, grief is a heart issue, living with grief, new normal, no escape from grief, shortcut through grief
Posted in Changes, Coping with Grief, Decisions and choices, How to help grievers, Shortcut through grief, Stunned by Grief | 2 Comments »
Thursday, June 30th, 2016
You just received some stunning news, and your world has been turned inside out and upside down. What will you do, and how can you turn things around after a tragedy or a deep heartache and keep going? Your first thought is, “I don’t know how I’m ever going to get through this.” Even though your world has stopped, everyone else’s world keeps going on as usual. How will you get through this tragedy? What will your life look like afterward?
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Tags: healing from grief, lessons about grief, not only survive but thrive, reframing, turn things around after loss, victor or victim
Posted in Attitude, Coping with Grief, Decisions and choices, Hope, Resilience, Response to tragedy, Stunned by Grief | Comments Off on Hard Lessons Learned about Grief: How Can You Turn Things Around after a Tragedy?
Tuesday, January 12th, 2016
When I read an especially meaningful quote recently, I could not help but think about the holiday season and the struggle it ushers in for anyone who is grieving. Yet, it’s not just about the ‘holiday’ season, but the meaningful times we experience throughout the year. All of these times are especially tough for anyone who is grieving. William Shakespeare penned the insightful phrase, “Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak whispers the o’er-fraught heart and bids it break.” Grievers are often so self-conscious about the possibility of their feelings spilling out unwillingly or unexpectedly that their dread of special days intensifies even more.
(more…)
Tags: acknowledge sorrow, don't run away, express grief, give sorrow words, keep moving forward, set guilt aside
Posted in Coping with Grief, Effects of Grief, Holidays, anniversaries, special occasions, Stunned by Grief | Comments Off on Don’t Be Afraid to Give Sorrow Words
Tuesday, November 24th, 2015
By Judy Brizendine
Tough times require extraordinary measures. Sometimes you’re not at your strongest – because something has knocked the wind out of you. An event, circumstance, or condition leaves you reeling, and you try desperately to regain your balance and steady yourself again. During tough times (such as grief), a particular three-legged stool is crucial. The building blocks that form the foundation of this stool are vital to your ability to cope with tough times. (more…)
Tags: coping with grief, gratitude, grow hope, importance of attitude, increase resilience, three legged stool
Posted in Attitude, Coping with Grief, Decisions and choices, Gratitude, Hope, Resilience, Stunned by Grief | 2 Comments »
Thursday, October 22nd, 2015
By Judy Brizendine
For once, let’s forget about dancing around the bush – or being politically correct. Let’s agree not to sweep the truth under the rug and stay silent. If you’ve faced a major loss, you know the truth. Grief is hard.
Even grief professionals are sometimes surprised and overwhelmed when they face a profound personal loss. (more…)
Tags: coping with grief, finding a way through grief, grief changes, grief is hard, grief is normal, setting your mind
Posted in Coping with Grief, Effects of Grief, Emotions, How to help grievers, Response to tragedy, Stunned by Grief | 3 Comments »
Friday, September 18th, 2015
I don’t know why this is true – but when you reduce the clutter in your physical surroundings, something takes place inside of you, too. When you clean out and discard things you don’t need, and organize what you decide to keep, it seems as though it’s easier to think, to move forward, and to do the things you need to do. Reduce the clutter and focus on the basics, and you will see benefits – in life and in grief.
(more…)
Tags: benefits in life and in grief, choose the best for you, focus on basics, reduce clutter, self care, tyranny of the urgent
Posted in Coping with Grief, Decisions and choices, New directions, Stunned by Grief | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, August 12th, 2015
I can’t imagine anybody being less prepared to face grief than I was―and if anyone had told me I might discover something good in grief—especially HOPE—I wouldn’t have believed them!
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Tags: finding hope in grief, God's care, God's presence, God's promises, grief challenges, grief journey, peace that passes understanding, reassurance
Posted in Coping with Grief, Decisions and choices, Effects of Grief, Hope, Response to tragedy, Sharing your story, Stunned by Grief | Comments Off on Making the Discovery—Finding Hope in Grief
Friday, June 5th, 2015
By Judy Brizendine
Grief is a formidable force—and when it hits you directly, it holds the power to take you to your knees. What can you do? How do you stand back up when grief knocks you down?
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Tags: concentrate on the present, decide not to give up, fight negative thinking, grief and hope, grief is normal, stand back up, when grief knocks you down
Posted in Attitude, Coping with Grief, Decisions and choices, Effects of Grief, Emotions, Hope, Response to tragedy, Stunned by Grief | 2 Comments »
Grief is messy and confusing. It’s all-consuming. And it’s unlike anything else you’ve been through. Here’s where the ‘U’ word comes in. When the ‘U’ word is missing grievers suffer, and their loved ones do, too. (more…)
The ‘J’ word that devastates grievers is something you probably would not intentionally do. But you might unconsciously allow it to sneak in and influence what you think, do, or say. (more…)
Holiday grief – two words that, when placed together, have the power to bring tears, fear, anger, pain, sadness, love, and a host of other responses. Knowing the power and effect of those two words, if you’re grieving, how do you deal with holiday grief? (more…)
When I read an especially meaningful quote recently, I could not help but think about the holiday season and the struggle it ushers in for anyone who is grieving. Yet, it’s not just about the ‘holiday’ season, but the meaningful times we experience throughout the year. All of these times are especially tough for anyone who is grieving. William Shakespeare penned the insightful phrase, “Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak whispers the o’er-fraught heart and bids it break.” Grievers are often so self-conscious about the possibility of their feelings spilling out unwillingly or unexpectedly that their dread of special days intensifies even more.
By Judy Brizendine
I don’t know why this is true – but when you reduce the clutter in your physical surroundings, something takes place inside of you, too. When you clean out and discard things you don’t need, and organize what you decide to keep, it seems as though it’s easier to think, to move forward, and to do the things you need to do. Reduce the clutter and focus on the basics, and you will see benefits – in life and in grief.
By Judy Brizendine
