Grief/Loss

Grief: Coping with the Loss of Your Loved One

This 2020 article from the American Psychological Association Research shows that most people can recover from loss on their own through the passage of time if they have social support and healthy habits.

"Coping with the loss of a close friend or family member may be one of the hardest challenges that many of us face. When we lose a spouse, sibling or parent our grief can be particularly intense. Loss is understood as a natural part of life, but we can still be overcome by shock and confusion, leading to prolonged periods of sadness or depression. The sadness typically diminishes in intensity as time passes, but grieving is an important process in order to overcome these feelings and continue to embrace the time you had with your loved one."

Are Grief Support Groups Helpful?

Sharing your emotions with others can make it easier to process your loss.

Grief affects us all in different ways, and asking for help dealing with it can be difficult. For many people, a grief support group makes the process a little easier by building connections with others who are also grieving. A grief support group can have a positive impact on mental health. One study found that these helped to reduce depressive symptoms in people who had lost a loved one.

7 Steps for Managing Grief and Loss

This 2014 article from Mayo Clinic discusses steps to managing grief and loss.

"Grief is summarized as sadness felt after suffering loss. Although that’s a fine cursory definition, it doesn’t really give grief true meaning. Grief is a deep and sometimes complex response to loss. Behavioral health provider and social worker at Mayo Clinic Health System Jessie Wolf says, “Even though it’s often associated with death, grief can be the result of any sort of loss or major life change. Losing your job, getting divorced, even moving — these all can elicit feelings of grief.”

What I learned from my Mom's Approach to Death

"My mother had been thinking about her own end of life for as long as I can remember. She’d nursed two parents through long, agonizing final chapters, one with cancer and the other with Parkinson’s. Being such a dutiful caregiver forged a determination in her not to end up like her parents. She was almost militant about “not being a burden” to her three girls at the end."

This 2023 article from AARP provides some insight on grief and coping with the end of life.

Coping with Grief and Loss

"Whatever type of loss you’ve suffered, there’s no right or wrong way to grieve. But by understanding the stages and types of grief, you can find healthier ways to cope."

"What is grief?

Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional suffering you feel when something or someone you love is taken away. Often, the pain of loss can feel overwhelming. You may experience all kinds of difficult and unexpected emotions, from shock or anger to disbelief, guilt, and profound sadness. The pain of grief can also disrupt your physical health, making it difficult to sleep, eat, or even think straight. These are normal reactions to loss—and the more significant the loss, the more intense your grief will be."

This article from HelpGuide.org discusses what grief is and the grieving process.

Hospice of the Valley - Grief Support

Healing from loss.

When a loved one dies, our lives are forever changed. We may have difficulty imagining how we will go on. It is normal to feel anger, sadness, withdrawal, guilt and anxiety. This can be especially challenging for young people who are still maturing emotionally.

You don’t need to face this transition alone. We offer up to 13 months of bereavement counseling and support to spouses/partners, family members and close friends of a loved one served by Hospice of the Valley.

Helping you heal afterwards is part of hospice care. We can be reached at (602) 530-6970.

New Song Center for Grieving Children, a program of Hospice of the Valley, offers up to 24 months of pediatric and family bereavement support for those grieving the death of a family member of any age. We can be reached at 480-951-8985.

Additionally, Hospice of the Valley provides grief support groups at locations Valley wide at no charge to anyone in our community. These groups are diverse and inclusive, multi-cultural and non-sectarian. They are open to any adult grieving the loss of a loved one of any age or relationship.

If you are in an emergency situation, please dial: 911