We know that grief shows up in different ways…and unfortunately there are some commonly held beliefs about grief that bear correcting if we really want to understand the grief experience and be able to navigate it in ourselves and support others.

First is that GRIEF is not just another word for SADNESS

It is an holistic experience…affects all levels of being…if  you get a lot of headaches, you aren’t able to sleep, lose your temper easily or routinely put your car keys in the fridge and the milk in the closet believe it or not, that is a manifestation of grief!

Safety – Everyday activities may pose increased risks to us when we are in acute grief as it can cause us to be distracted and forgetful, predisposing us to serious injury. We are vulnerable to accidents while driving, walking and cooking.

Developing awareness about how grief shows up in YOU and how you express your grief, is important in developing empathy for others who may experience and express their grief differently than you.

Knowledge is empowering and grieving people need to be educated about the many ways their grief may show up.