Grief Support

After the unexpected death of his wife, Irish author C.S. Lewis wrote in A Grief Observed, "No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. The death of a beloved is an amputation."

While dealing with grief is not easy, we believe the resources within this section of our website can help. Should you need additional support in grieving your loss, please call us. We will do everything we can to assist you.

No one is prepared for grief. The rush of feelings, the thoughts, anxieties, and heartache can take us by surprise and drive us to our knees. Yet, when we choose to harness that power for self-growth, amazing things can happen. Good can come from pain.

Sigmund Freud first brought up the concept of grief work in 1917, and today the idea that bereavement is purpose-driven continues. Dr. James Worden chose to see the work of bereavement as task-oriented:

Dealing with grief is hard work. It takes both courage and hard work to successfully adapt to the loss of a significant person in your life.

Everyone is unique, and we each grieve and mourn a loss in our own special ways. While some might put on a brave face, others are completely overwhelmed. Universally however, there are 5 stages of grief that everyone experiences. When someone close to us passes away, it’s completely normal to feel a mix of emotions depending on your relationship to the deceased and the circumstances surrounding their death. In any case, it’s important to understand that experiencing grief is a healthy and normal part of the healing process. 

If you have recently loss someone, please accept our sincerest condolences and know that we are here for you.

The five stages of grief can apply to a variety of circumstances including the loss of a close relationship, the death of a valued being (person or animal) or in response to a terminal illness diagnoses. The 5 stages of grief include: Denial and Isolation, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and finally Acceptance. These were first proposed by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in her book Death and Dying.

Each individual is different and may not necessarily experience the 5 stages of grief in the order listed below. To go through the grieving process, you do not need to follow step by step. Rather, you must use them as a guide to help you move forward. An important piece to remember regardless of what stage you are in is; As long as there is life, there is hope. As long as there is hope, there is life.

Eventually, the denial will begin to fade as you begin to become stronger and heal. It might occur unknowingly as you slowly start to accept the reality of the loss and begin to ask yourself questions and move forward.

Anger is typically directed at others even though we know they are not responsible for the situation. In many cases the anger is a result of believing the person who has passed away is the one responsible for causing the pain. In reality, we understand how irrational it is to think like that which can then create feelings of guilt.

Secretly people may try to make a deal with God or a higher power in order to postpone the inevitable. Common phrases people have during this stage include:

The second stage of depression is often more personal and more private. It occurs in the hours leading up to a loved one’s funeral service. As we prepare ourselves to say goodbye, its normal to experience many different emotions and feel uneasy. Sometimes, all you need is a hug and someone to lean on. 

A common misconception is that if you reach acceptance you find happiness. In actuality, the acceptance stage is a phase marked by withdrawal and calm. No matter what situation or stage you are in, it’s is important to know that there are people dedicated to helping you grieve. Our caring and compassionate staff can help you through the grieving process with advice and resources.