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Grief and Loss Coping with a serious or terminal illness is a very difficult experience, not just for the patient, but for everyone who is involved. The services of the Grief and Loss Resource Program are available to anyone in the community.  In addition to seminars and support groups, the Grief and Loss Resource Program can provide consultation, counseling, community
education, referral resources, training, and assistance to businesses regarding ways to respond to grief.Bereavement support groups can be very beneficial during your grief journey. They are a "safe place" or "space for sorrow" -- a place you can really be yourself, no matter how you are feeling. The format is one of exploring feelings while processing and validating experiences that are commonly associated with grief. This process of sharing enables individuals to find ways to cope while discovering and developing meaningful resources. Support groups are available for Hospice families as well as the community at large. Each support group meets for consecutive weeks to provide opportunities for grievers to openly share with each other. View Event Calendar Grief and Loss Grief may be experienced in the combination of mental/emotional, physical, or social reaction. Mental/emotional reactions can include anger, guilt, anxiety, sadness, and despair. Physical reactions can include sleeping problems, changes in appetite, physical problems, or illness. Social reactions can include feelings about taking care of others in the family, role changes in the family, returning to work, or differences in social situations. The depths of grief one experiences is related to the relationship with the person who died, the situation surrounding the death, and the person's attachment to who or what was lost. Some people don't realize it is grief related when they experience difficulty concentrating, have ongoing sadness, constant thoughts of the person who died, feel guilty, angry, or experience a change in the way they normally act or feel. It is not uncommon for a person who is grieving to feel extremely tired, as the process sometimes requires physical and emotional energy. The grief they are feeling is not just for the person who died, but also includes all of the unfulfilled wishes and plans. Additionally, previous losses or separations can resurface and complicate the grief experience. Bereavement Bereavement is the period after a loss during which grief is experienced. The time spent in a period of bereavement depends on how attached the person was to the person who died, and how much time was spent anticipating the loss. Some view the process of bereavement as having 4 phases:
Content provided by the National Family Caregivers Association. What most people need after a significant loss is the support of caring loved ones, family and friends. It helps to know what resources are available in the community so individuals can take advantage of needed services when they are ready. For more information, please contact counseling@hospicecarewv.org |
Support Group Calendar |
died settles in,
it is common to feel depressed and find it difficult to think about the future. You may be easily distracted, or have difficulty
concentrating and focusing on any one task.