Survivor Aftercare


No one can fix your grief or take it away, you must work through it. Initially you may have feelings of shock, numbness or disbelief that the loss has occurred. Whether the death was anticipated or not, you may feel emotionally overwhelmed and experience physical reactions to it. Some of these feelings may last seconds, days or weeks, similar to the body's response to shock. It’s a defense mechanism that can give you time to gradually absorb and accept the reality of your loss.

Some Responses to Grief:

Social:
— distancing from others
— inability to reach out
— lack of interest in daily affairs of others
— dependency on family or friends
— unrealistic expectations of self or others
— rushing into another intimate relationship
— poor judgment

Physiological:
— tightness in chest, palpitations
— shortness of breath, choking
— diarrhea, constipation, vomiting
— crying, sighing
— no energy, weakness in body, feeling empty, rigidity
— restlessness, aimless activity
— loss of appetite, no taste to food or drink
— insomnia or sleeping too much

Thoughts:
— confusion, sense of unreality
— distortion of time
— poor concentration, forgetfulness
— general denial or disbelief of the loss
— daydreaming
— preoccupation with the deceased

Emotional:
— indifference to activities of daily living
— numbness, flat expression
— personality explosion or withdrawal
— need to review circumstances of death

Spiritual:
— blaming God or life for the death
— lack of meaning in life
— may wish to die and join the deceased
— lack of direction, no sense of future

What Helps?
- talking about the person and the death
- grief support groups, talking to strangers is sometimes easier
- knowing that other people experience the same reactions to loss
- feeling you have support in your life, practical and emotional
- not making unnecessary changes in your life

Grief: General

These thoughtful articles provide guidance and direction for anyone touched by grief.

Helping Yourself with Grief

Someone you love has died. You are now faced with the difficult, but important, need to mourn. Mourning is the open expression of your thoughts and feelings regarding the death and the person who died. It is an essential part of healing. The following articles provide many practical suggestions to help you move toward healing in your unique grief journey.

Helping Others with Grief

A friend has experienced the death of someone loved. How can you help? The following articles provide many practical suggestions for helping others with grief:

For and About Grieving Children and Teenagers

Children and teenagers have special needs following the death of a friend or family member. The following articles provide wonderful insight in helping children and teens understand and express their grief.

Funerals, Memorials, Cremation and Related Topics

The days following the death of a loved one can be filled with sadness and confusion. The following articles can help you understand the importance of the rituals surrounding death.

For Funeral Directors

Effectively meeting the grief needs of customers in an increasingly impersonal world takes special effort on the part of professionals in the grief industry. The following articles are designed to help funeral directors gauge their own effectiveness and meet the challenges of serving customer needs.

For Hospices and Other Caregivers

Caregivers have special needs of their own. The following articles are designed to help caregivers take care of themselves as well as those who are suffering from loss.