“Let us not forget those who grieve” – Angie Cartwright
August 30 is National Grief Awareness Day. Established in 2014 by Angie Cartwright, National Grief Awareness Day seeks to bring awareness to the many ways we are all impacted by grief while encouraging dialogue on grief, loss, and coping.
Why do we need this day for awareness? Most people experience some form of grief and, as a natural part of life, it’s important to understand the experience. After all, grief is the natural reaction to loss. Most people, however, see grief as the emotional experience that happens after a death. While this is true, grief is far more encompassing. We grieve many times and for many reasons throughout our lifetime, including the loss of a job, losing a precious item, experiencing the end of a relationship, or encountering any significant life transition.
And grief is not solely an emotional experience. Grief impacts a person cognitively, physically, spiritually, behaviorally, and systemically (in family systems or at work). Grief is not a problem to be fixed or an illness to be cured, but a natural human experience and reaction to loss. It is complex and can be messy. Moreover, grief cannot be completed by performing a list of tasks or by walking through a firm set of stages or steps. While grief is a universal experience, it is important to note that we each grieve in our own unique way.
We will all experience grief at various times in our life and each new loss will bring its own grief reaction and process, which may look very different than how we grieved a prior loss. It is healthy and important to seek out support as you navigate the often-complicated and painful experiences that accompany loss because we are not meant to grieve in isolation. Grief Care can be a source of much needed support and education to help you learn more about your own specific experience with grief as well as ways to cope. Grief Care and support is provided in several different formats including support groups, grief counseling, books, podcasts, blogs, and websites. Our Grief Care Department at Angela Hospice provides support through support groups, workshops, and events to anyone in the community who has experienced the death of a loved one. Families and caregivers of our patients can also receive one-on-one counseling.
In recognition of national grief awareness day, honor your own losses and recognize other grievers by supporting one another, engaging in self-care, and posting to social media using the hashtag #NationalGriefAwarenessDay to share what you have learned about grief and loss.
OUR FREE GRIEF CARE PROGRAMS:
While feelings of grief are normal, handling them can be difficult and painful. Talking about what you are going through can help. Call 734.779.6690 to schedule an appointment. Or visit www.askforangela.com to check out our grief support calendar with a detailed listing of upcoming support groups.
