MartyT

I too am sorry for the confusion, Rod ~ but the information suggested still applies. The more you know and understand about what is normal in grief, the better prepared you will be to understand and support your wife. When you find something that makes sense to you, you might print it out and encourage your wife to read it too. Here is another reading that I hope will offer some insight: How We Mourn: Understanding Our Differences See also Death of A Parent: Negative Impact on a Couple's Relationship ~ which includes links to a number of articles on helping another in grief. ❤️

Of course you are devastated ~ for you, this is a significant loss, and the depth of your pain is a measure of how much you have lost. I am so sorry this has happened to you ~ but you sound as if you're working hard to make sense of what has happpened and to learn whatever lessons this experience can teach you. Your statements that "meeting her showed me the type of love that I'm capable of" and "I know I deserve someone who can be with me even through the most challenging of times" speak to this fact. I encourage you to allow whatever feelings may arise as you find your way through this grief. Honor it as worthy of your mourning. Lean on those in your own circle (friends, family, co-workers) who can support you through this challenging time in your life ~ and know that you will make it through. Seek a session or two with a qualified grief counselor if you feel the need. I invite you to read the following, in hopes that doing so will help: Mourning The Death of a Love Relationship: Suggested Resources In Grief: Can This Relationship Survive? Confronting The Lessons of Grief ❤️

Hi Rod ~ You say you're 16 months into your grief journey and still feeling insecure and not at all like yourself. I promise that you will never get back to how it was before your father died. That reality has a profound effect on you, and there is nothing you can do to go back to the way it was when your father was still alive, and still here with you in the physical realm. That does not mean, however, that you cannot go on to live a full and happy life, as you eventually learn how to carry the weight of this significant loss, without letting it bring you to your knees. I sincerely hope you will consider a session or more with a qualified grief counselor who can support you in your mourning and guide you in ways to better understand and manage your reactions. Learning all you can about what is normal in grief (and therefore what to expect in the wake of loss) can help tremendously in finding your way through it, and onto a path of hope and healing. See, for example, Bereavement: Doing The Work of Grief Common Myths and Misconceptions about Grief Finding Grief Support That Is Right for You ~ including all the additonal readings listed at the bases of these articles. ❤️

We're grateful that you've found us, Spence. We welcome you, and we want you to know that we're here for you, walking beside you as you travel this challenging journey. ❤️

Hi Dan. I'm so sorry to learn of the death of your dad just 3 months ago. You are still very early in your grief journey, so it's not surprising that you're still feeling bad ~ if not worse ~ at this point. This is when all that initial shock and disbelief has gone away, and you're now faced with the harsh reality that your dad is gone and never coming back. This is why we usually encourage people to wait 3 to 6 months before seeking support from a grief group, since this is when all the symptoms you describe are more likely to appear. I invite you to read the following, in hopes that doing so will help you better understand what you're feeling and what you might do to manage your symptoms: Grief: Understanding The Process Physical Reactions to Loss Anxiety and Panic Attacks in Grief Voices of Experience: How Grief Can Affect Your Health In Grief: Finding Support in A Group

As a gentle reminder, special guest Dr. Louise Newson will be live this Wednesday, August 14th at 6pm UK time | 1pm ET and it's not too late to register for this upcoming Grief Works Community Get-Together. You don’t need to go through this alone, we’re here for each other. Join us and Dr. Louise in this live session, during which we will explore how to navigate grief during Menopause and Perimenopause. Everyone is welcome—even if this topic doesn’t apply to you, we'd encourage you to attend to understand and learn how to support your loved ones. This session is an opportunity to ask Dr. Louise your questions and connect with others in a safe and compassionate space. Click here to reserve your spot After completing the registration process, you will promptly receive a confirmation email with an exclusive Zoom link that will grant you access to this upcoming live session. I hope to see you there, Nick Begley, Сo-Creator of Grief Works

We're all pulling for you! 🤍

Fall is just around the corner and our Fall issue of the E-letter is here! (Feature article: Hope for the Grieving…You will make it through.) Also read Nan’s article how the Bluebirds Started Singing Again! Browse and pass this on to someone else. We appreciate your kindness. We hope you find inspiration and Hope in this issue. Click on the link and page down to the ELetter. https://www.wingsgrief.org/ You can also download the e-Letter to read later. Page down on the Home Page. Read online or Open in your desktop app. If you change your email address or no longer wish to receive the ELetter, please let me know: Nan at nanwings1@gmail.com Thank you for following Wings. Nan Zastrow nanwings1@gmail.com Nan & Gary Zastrow | Founders of: Wings--a Grief Education Ministry (1993) Visit Wings on FACEBOOK website: wingsgrief.org "Grief is not a planned journey. It's a discovery that happens as a natural response to loss. It takes everything we think, feel, and act up to that point and shuffles it to create a whole new set of life's mysteries. Just when we think we had life figured out. It rattles our composure and reduces us to nothing until we realize, everyone else on this journey feels just the same." (Nan Zastrow)

You have our heartfelt sympathy, Denise. Your loving baby Lady Bug is adorable, and the pain you're feeling in her absence is certainly understandable. Please know that we are thinking of you and holding you close . . . ❤️

My heart hurts for you as I read your story, especially as you describe your final months with your beloved Tarlan. I understand completely the bond you shared with her, since I also have loved and lost a TT ~ a very special breed indeed. (You can read my story here: Saying Goodbye to Beringer and in this thread: Saying Goodbye to Beringer.) I think the best thing you can do is to read a bit about the grief that surrounds the loss of a cherished companion animal, so you'll better understand what you're feeling and what you might do to manage your reactions. For now, just know that you are not alone. You are among kindred spirits here, and we know all too well the pain . . . You might begin with these: Pet Loss: Is It A Different Kind of Grief? Pet Loss: Why Does It Hurt So Much?

Spring is here! And we have so much to share! Please READ, BROWSE AND SHARE with someone else… We appreciate it when you pass on our Eletter to others. We hope they find inspiration and Hope in their journey through grief. Click on the link and page down to the ELetter. https://www.wingsgrief.org/ You can also download the e-Letter to read later. Page down on the Home Page. Read online or Open in your desktop app. Thank you for following Wings. -- Nan Zastrow nanwings1@gmail.com

The Men’s Grief Network® is a project of The National Widowers’ Organization to help men coping with the loss of a loved one. Read MGN blog, Dating blog, About Men’s Grief, Join a Webinar to learn more. May Webinar: Rituals For Healing Grief Wednesday, May 29, 8:30 pm EST Our May Webinar Topic has changed. Grief educator Matt Morse will focus on the use of rituals in healing. Register now to join this powerful discussion. Register

Your Harley is adorable, Kevin ~ thank you for the pictures! How old is he in these photos? So cute! ❤️

Let's see a picture or two of your new dog, Kevin!

I want to share with you some readings that I hope you and your mom will find helpful. Note that each of these articles include links to dozens of additional resources: Anticipating the Death of One's Parents Staying Present in the Face of Inevitable Loss Caregiving and Grief in Alzheimers and Dementia: Suggested Resources

Good to hear from you, James. Please know that you are always welcome here. You're still one of us as long as you want to be with us! ❤️

Yes, it is possible to change your user name. Please let me know what name you prefer, and I'll be happy to change it for you. (You can notify me privately what name you'd like via a Personal Message or email me at tousleym@griefhealing.com .)

Thank you so much for the detailed update, Laura ~ So good to hear from you! Stay healthy, and continue taking such good care of yourself ~ for you, and for us! Blessings to you, dear one! ❤️

Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers as you find your way through this latest challenge . . . ❤️

Given how you describe your relationship with both your boys, and given how long this has been going on in your family, you would be wise to consider some professional guidance and support. There is way too much to unpack here, to think that you can do it all by yourself. Meeting with a qualified grief counselor or family therapist could go a long way in helping you open the lines of communication with your sons and come to terms with the death of your wife ~ and their mother. See, for example, Seeing A Specialist in Grief Counseling: Why It Matters How We Mourn: Understanding Our Differences Supporting Children and Adolescents in Grief In Grief: Coping with Denial and Disbelief

Granted, Kay ❤️

Ken, I am so sorry. I can hear the pain in your words ~ and my heart reaches out to you. I hope you can feel all of our arms wrapped around you as we offer comfort and support to your broken heart . . . ❤️

I encourage you to read the following, as doing so may shed some light on your experience. Note that each article includes links to additional resources: Anticipatory Grief and Mourning Anticipatory Grief and Mourning: Suggested Resources Using Antidepressants to Manage Acute, Normal Grief Voices of Experience: Grief and Depression: Are They Different?

  NEW ONLINE RESOURCE Access valuable grief advice from experts, including tips for those who are grieving and guidance about what to expect following a loss. Follow Us       Connect with us for: Tips Frequently Asked Questions Grief Facts ...and more!   https://www.facebook.com/Journeyswithgrief Page information provided by Hospice Foundation of America, Inc. Contact us at journeys@hospicefoundation.org Hospice Foundation of America, Inc. | 1707 L Street., NW, Suite 220, Washington, DC 200

My dear, I am so very sorry to learn of the death of your dad. Death by suicide is one of the most difficult kinds of loss to understand and to bear, and it's important for you to know that you are not alone in this. I hope you will give yourself the benefit of some of the many resources available to you. Here is just a sampling: Surviving A Parent's Death by Suicide Grief Support for Survivors of Suicide Loss