Seven Choices: Finding Daylight After Loss Shatters Your World

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Isn’t Grief Complicated Enough? Megan Davis, LISW-S “My husband died over three years ago…but I still can’t seem to imagine life without him.” This is one woman’s expression of how intensely her sorrow continues to affect her life several years after the death of her spouse. Sometimes when we experience a death, for various reasons, we are unable to move through our grief. When a grief experience becomes so intense, long lasting and severe that it prevents us from healing, it is called Complicated Grief. Intense emotions like sadness, anger, guilt and anxiety are common following the death of a loved one, but when such feelings persist, they can inhibit our ability to mourn and even prevent us from accepting that the death has occurred. This makes it very difficult to go on living and to make meaning out of life. Anyone can suffer from complicated grief, but common risk factors include: sudden/unanticipated death, death following a lengthy illness, death of a young child, feeling that the death was preventable and experiencing multiple losses. Relationships that were extremely dependent, angry, or ambivalent – and particularly when abuse or violence was present – can leave us with unresolved feelings about the loss, and lead to complicated grief as well. C o m f o r t | H o p e | H e a l i n g Symptoms of complicated grief are similar to normal grief but last for at least six months. They can include: • Inability to accept that the death has occurred • Intense anxiety, anger, guilt or loneliness that persists over time • Isolation or withdrawal from others • Lack of emotion; numbness • Feeling that life is meaningless or empty • Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts; upsetting memories of the deceased • Severe changes in eating or sleeping habits • Extreme avoidance of family/friends or activities associated with the deceased • Experiencing physical symptoms like those the deceased experienced prior to or during death • Phobias/fears of illness or death • Relentless depression If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above or are having difficulty managing your grief, please contact your hospice bereavement coordinator or a grief counselor in The Bereavement Center. You do not have to go through this journey alone! Please call us at (216) 486-6838 to be connected with someone who can help. Our eleventh Together We Can bereavement day camp was a great success. Forty children gathered to spend three days sharing laughter and tears, honoring loved ones, and learning ways to express feelings and cope with their grief. Most importantly, they had a great time and met others who have also experienced a loss. We would like to thank the many paid and unpaid staff who committed their time and talents to make this a great event, as well as the numerous individuals who contributed funds to purchase supplies and provide camper scholarships. Many thanks also go to Kaiser Permanente, Stuart and Associates, David Tavens of MitzvahPhoto, Buckeye Mountain Coffee and Water Company, Miklus Florists, and our teddy bear ladies, Mary Graham, Margaret Stokes and Gayle Kovach. <strong>Your</strong> support for our camp is priceless!! 289132_AboutGrief.indd 3 10/29/09 11:58 AM 3
4 Massage TherapY Providing Comfort Through Touch Stress is a normal part of life. As you move along grief’s journey, you may face many challenges. Massage therapy is a tool useful in helping to cope with stress, anxiety and fatigue. To schedule an appointment, call Felicia Dunlop-Stanley at (216) 486-6335. All appointments will be held at The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Bereavement Center. Basic Fees: $25 for 30 minutes $50 for 60 minutes Yoga MaTTers Give yourself the gift of time and attention. The practice of Yoga helps you tune into yourself and take care of your physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Classes held at Hospice of the Western Reserve Headquarters. To register please call (216) 486-6838. On-going Yoga Class designed for caregivers & bereaved Wednesdays, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm Fee: $40/month or $12 Drop-in (sliding scale fee available) aLcohoLics anonYMous Headquarters Wednesdays, 12:45 pm For more information, call (216) 241-7387 Bereavement Support Groups Unless otherwise noted, our support groups are open to anyone who has had a loved one die. Please note, most Westlake groups will be held at St John West Shore Community Outreach Center, 29160 Center Ridge Road, Suite R. Groups are subject to change. Call to verify time and location. Adult Support Groups circLe oF hope series Six-week educational support class for adults who have had a loved one die. Registration is required. Please call the facilitator listed below for more information or to register. ashtabula office Wednesdays, Jan. 20 - Feb. 24, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Mary McKernan-Gryzmala (440) 997-6619 The elisabeth severance prentiss Bereavement center Wednesdays, Feb. 24 - Mar. 31, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Diana Battles (216) 486-6364 hospice of the Western reserve headquarters Mondays, Feb. 1 - Mar. 8, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Tensie Holland (216) 383-3741 Lakewood office Mondays, Jan. 18 - Feb. 22, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Judy Beckman (216) 383-3737, ext. 3110 Mentor office Mondays, Jan. 18 - Feb. 22, 10:30 to 12:00 p.m. Lisa Florjancic (216) 383-3737, ext. 3041 winter 2009-2010 Community Support Groups & Activities piece BY piece for young widows and widowers A four week support group. Registration is required. Warrensville heights office Thursdays, Jan. 7 - Jan. 28, 6:00 to7:30 p.m. Vicki Jackson (216) 383-3737, ext. 3200 parenTs TogeTher A support group for parents coping with the death of an adult child. Registration is required. Lakewood office six Mondays, Mar. 8 - apr. 12, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Judy Beckman (216) 383-3737, ext. 3110 Warrensville heights office Four Tuesdays, Mar. 9 - Mar. 30, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Vicki Jackson (216) 383-3737, ext. 3200 hope & heaLing An on-going monthly support group for grieving adults. Registration is not required. Please call facilitator for more information. hospice of the Western reserve headquarters 3 rd Monday of the month, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. April Ratcliffe (216) 383-3782 Warrensville heights office 4 th Wednesday of the month, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Joan Tabaj (216) 383-3737 ext. 3105 Mentor office 1 st Tuesday of the month, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Lisa Florjancic (216) 383-3737 ext. 3041 Lakewood office 2 nd Tuesday of the month, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Judy Beckman (216) 383-3737 ext. 3110 For The Young aDuLT (20’s) The elisabeth severance prentiss Bereavement center 3 rd Wednesday of the month, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Diana Battles (216) 486-6364 Men’s grieF group A monthly breakfast meeting for men who are grieving the death of a loved one. The elisabeth severance prentiss Bereavement center 1 st Wednesday of the month, 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. Bob Ballantine (216) 486-6747 neW Beginnings A monthly support group for young widows and widowers (ages 55 and younger). This group is open-ended and on-going. Registration is not required. Westlake St John West Shore Community Outreach Center 29160 Center Ridge Road, Suite R 2 nd Wednesday of the month, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. JoDee Coulter (216) 383-3737 ext. 3440 Warrensville heights office 1 st Monday of the month, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Vicki Jackson (216) 383-3737, ext. 3200 289132_AboutGrief.indd 4 10/29/09 11:58 AM
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Seven Choices: Finding Daylight After Loss Shatters Your World

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