Grief is the body and mind’s natural response to loss, and each individual experiences grief differently and in their own unique way. This journey is one that may be difficult to endure. Support is here in the community for those who need it.
Hospice Huntsville is offering a free-of-charge adult grief support program, beginning the week of April 25, 2022. The program will run for seven weeks and sessions will take place in-person this year, instead of the virtual sessions that were previously offered throughout the pandemic.
The program is for anyone grieving a death that happened more than three months ago, regardless of whether or not the deceased received end-of-life support from Hospice. For those more recently bereaved, one-to-one grief support is available.
Groups typically consist of around seven members, as a smaller group is needed to reap the full benefits of the experience, says Jane Weiland, program coordinator for Hospice Huntsville. One-to-one support remains available for those who do not feel comfortable expressing their grief in a group setting.
“The grief journey is unique for each person,” Weiland says, “so they are welcome to join any way that’s right for them.”
The adult grief support program, as with all grief support through Hospice Huntsville, is provided by volunteers who have specific training in grief and bereavement. Content builds throughout the program and there are specific topics of focus for each session, including ‘grief feelings’ which analyzes the physical, mental, and emotional effects of grief, and ‘brain fog,’ a common phenomenon which may leave the bereaved unable to operate at full mental capacity.
“Grief impacts all parts of our body, mind, spirit, as well as emotional, social, and spiritual,” Weiland says. “People are often surprised when we have those early conversations. They realize ‘oh, that might be why I’m experiencing that.’ Brain fog is one we talk about: when you can’t keep things in your mind like you used to be able to, or have trouble sleeping, or not feeling motivated. All of those are pieces of grief.”
Each session will consist of group discussions in which participants will have the opportunity to express their grief and share their story as they feel comfortable. Weiland says that oftentimes these discussions help provide new perspectives and allow for support in a welcoming, non-judgmental, and confidential setting.
“One of the things that people gain from the group would be an understanding that they are not alone,” Weiland says. “Each person’s story and the death is very different, and yet there are always some very common grief experiences, so that feeling of ‘I’m not alone’ is very helpful.”
At each session, participants will receive handouts and by the end of the seven weeks they will possess a small binder of resources. Weiland says many past participants have found these handouts and resources to be extremely helpful, and have gone back to use them over time.
“One of the key things that people find surprising in the end is the peer support,” Weiland says. “There is also new information, insight, and tools that they can take away to help them on their journey. Because the program is not the end of the grief journey, it is part of a long process.”
Hospice Huntsville strongly encourages participants to register for the program before April 14. Email [email protected] or call 705 789 6878 Ext. 200 to register.
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Lynne Wright says
I lost my Jim last July 20th and am still having problems getting through this grief. I would be very interested in sitting and discussing this with others.