I Am A Griever

The First Fathers’ Day Without Dad

When you lose a person in the generation before you, you begin to think about what they meant to you. When you lose a parent, you think about all they meant, and you hoped you either lived up to the best of yourself, or in some cases where the parenting was not as instructive or kind, you hope you’ve raised yourself beyond difficult circumstances.

Joyce – Beliefs

Joyce talks about her belief system after her son died

Kate – My story

Kate tells her story of being away when her brother died of an opioid overdose

John – Lasagna

John talks about the “widower’s meal”… Lasagna, and learning how to cook for his daughters after his wife died

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.

Craig – Supporting Someone in Grief

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Craig discusses his personal experience with grief and how he felt when people didn’t reach out to him during a difficult time. He offers advice on how to best support someone who is grieving, emphasizing the importance of simply showing up and letting them know that you care.

Lyss – Seasonal Reminders

Lyss seasonal reminders and her mother dying at New Years

Adam – Advice

Adam shares his advice about losing and remembering a loved one

John – Empower yourself

John shares his thoughts about how to support someone in grief and his processes

Angie – Cumulative grief, cumulative trauma

Angie discusses the challenges of policing and how trauma and grief can accumulate

Adam – Story 1

Adam shares about losing his Mom and the many wonderful things he remembers

Adam – Crying and singing

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Adam talks about how crying and singing helps him cope even at the cemetary