Grief and Trauma

Quiet Hope: Healing as a Nurse, Mourning as a Mom

By: Yhaimar Barile I’m a nurse. I’m a writer. And I’m a mom who lost her son. Last year, shortly before his eighteenth birthday, my son Gabriel died unexpectedly. Everything changed after that. Life split into a clear “before” and “after.” The world around me kept moving, but mine stopped. Nothing looked or felt the…

Donna B – “A Mother salutes her son”

Donna tells her story of joining the army after her son was already a soldier. Donna continues to grieve the death her son during service in Afghanistan.

Brenda and Dale – “Their Story”

Brenda and Dale tell the story of their son’s suicide. They continue to grieve the death of their son by suicide.

Brenda and Dale – “Seeking Help”

Brenda and Dale discuss how seeing a counsellor helped them. They continue to grieve the death of their son by suicide.

Sarah K – Coping

Sarah discusses how she copes with this unbelievably painful loss

Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Other Special Days

When we are grieving, some days are more difficult than others. Grief comes in waves like the sea and can feel like an intertwining labyrinth of emotions. Birthdays, anniversaries, and special dates that are associated with our loved one who has died can contribute to more emotionally intense days which can be worsened through the anticipation and “what ifs” of the upcoming day. These difficult days can leave us feeling defeated and it can almost feel like we’ve taken two steps backward in our grieving process, but grief does not have a timeline, and these feelings of setbacks are opportunities for healing.

Bryan – Trauma

Bryan discusses trauma anxiety, support and the loss of his father to gun violence

Donna B – “Brotherhood of Military”

Donna talks about support from the extended family of the military. Donna continues to grieve the death her son during service in Afghanistan.

John Martin – The Trauma of Loss and Grief

John discusses trauma and grief

What Can Help with Early Traumatic Grief?

When your child dies you are thrown into a nightmare. None of this is expected to be easy.
Even after several months, it still isn’t. There have been some things that have helped us during
our grief. Maybe they will help you, too.

Collective Grief

When the death of a person affects many members in a community, city, country, or across the world, people will experience collective grief.

These are some things that can help people through the experience of collective grief across a community.

Rev. Sky – “What is grief?”

Rev. Sky talks about the universality of grief and how people grieve differently.