No one WANTS to be a part of a grief support group. We do not sign up for tragedy. There is no shame in realizing that you could use some help. It doesn’t make you weak, in fact, getting support is an act of bravery; an act of radical self-love.
Every Tuesday night, I help facilitate a grief support group from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. It's a hybrid meeting so you can attend in person or online. Each week, we discuss a different topic relating to the processing and healing from grief.
What is grief?
Grief is a natural emotional response to the loss of a loved one, friend, or something significant in your life.
I’ve learned a lot about how grief manifests itself in our lives. You can experience overwhelming sadness, tears that won't stop coming, brain fog, anger, explosive behavior toward loved ones, anxiety, isolation and substance use. Hazelden came out with a study that said the number one root cause of addiction is grief. Complex grief is where you experience one hardship or loss after another. It creates layers of grief, making it complex. The next thing you know, you have a mountain of unhealed and unprocessed grief.
No one WANTS to be a part of a grief support group. We do not sign up for tragedy. Maybe you’ve been resilient in the past at overcoming tragedy, or maybe you’re skilled at compartmentalizing and brushing your grief under the rug thinking “this is just life and we're gonna powerhouse through it.”
But sometimes, grief catches up with you in a way that is unexpected. Maybe you don’t even know that it’s grief that you’re experiencing. Sometimes, grief can cause you to lose a relationship, to lose a job, to not be able to function in the normal world, or to become so sad that you can't get out of bed. Maybe you feel like people don’t understand and you’re suffering alone.
You don't have to be a part of a support group forever, but if you are struggling with processing and moving through this season of deep grief, the number one recommended action to take is meeting with like-minded people who have had the same experience as you; who will validate and understand you, laugh with you at the absurdities and funny things that happen to you during this season that don't even make sense to anyone else. A place where you get to talk about memories without fear or judgement. Where people don’t get tired of listening to your memories and hold space for you during the anniversaries, birthdays, and special occasions that your loved one isn’t here for.
You’ll get to learn the skills and tools that work for you personally.
There is no shame in realizing that you could use some help. It doesn’t make you weak, in fact, getting support is an act of bravery; an act of radical self-love.
Your loved one loved you so much and I believe that they would want you to fully experience the life that you still have to live, with abundance, joy, and happiness.
I hope you’ll consider joining me. - Sarah Hornbuckle
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