National Grief Awareness Day – August 30th
National Grief Awareness day is a time to recognize the complex feelings of grief, the sum of everything you feel when someone you love is no longer in your life. Grief is the natural way that we cope with loss and understanding your own grief may lead you to find comfort and healing. On National Grief Awareness Day, you might make the time for self-care, join a support group, and remember those you’ve lost. Helios Care can provide professional support as you move through your grief journey.
“Grief is not a disorder, a disease, or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical, and spiritual necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve.”
– Dr. Earl A. Grollman, author of Living When a Loved One Has Died
Coping with Grief and Sleep?
After a loss, it can be challenging to get enough rest. That’s because sleep problems are common when you are grieving. But for most people, sleep slowly returns to normal after several weeks. To help this process along, below are 5 tips to consider.
- Aim for consistency.
Our bodies work best on predictability and routine. So try to go to bed and wake up at the same time, every day. - Mind over matter.
Tell yourself that your body needs sleep. And trust your brain to help you get a good night’s sleep. It’s OK to give yourself permission to relax and trust your body. - Let the sun shine in.
Sunlight is the strongest signal that tells your body it’s time to be awake or asleep. When the sun is shining, be sure to go outside and soak some in. - Get a move on.
Physical activity—even a little—goes a long way. Aim for 3-4 times a week. Walking counts! - Find a balance that works for you.
Gone are the days of thinking we all need 8 hours of sleep. In fact, most adults do well with just 7 hours.
On the flip side, use caution with short-term fixes that might not be so helpful over the long run. For example, if you’re thinking about using sleeping pills, be sure to discuss them with your healthcare provider first. Similarly, many people think alcohol will help. But while alcohol may help you fall asleep, it also interrupts sleep and decreases the amount of deep sleep you get.
If your sleep hasn’t improved after 3 months, please talk with your healthcare provider. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Spiritual Thoughts to Share
Our non-denominational Spiritual Care Clinicians are available to provide you with spiritual support in your home, tailored to your specific preferences. If you would rather have a visit from a member of your own faith community, our Spiritual Care team can make these connections for you.
Here is one perspective on loss from Bruce Helstrom, Spiritual Care Counselor:
“Down through the ages, people have speculated about the afterlife. And you may find yourself asking,“When my loved one dies, will I see them again?” If you aren’t sure, may I share three reasons why the answer may be “Yes?” First, a lot of good deeds go unrewarded and much evil unpunished. This is unjust. Second, family issues may be so complicated that they never get resolved in this life. But with love and time in the next world, people may become reconciled. Finally, no one in this life uses anywhere near their full potential, and that’s a waste. You’d think we were meant for something more. There are other reasons, too, to believe death is not the end. Yet these three reasons might give us arguable hope that we’ll see our loved ones again.”
Helios Care Can Help
There are many free events and grief support groups provided by Helios Care throughout the year. Helios Care also offers one-on-one counseling sessions. To register for any of the events below or schedule a session, please call (607) 432-5525.
Healing Grief Retreat
The all-day Healing Grief Retreat for adults will be held on November 2nd at the Uplands Center in Walton. This retreat will address The Waves of Grief and will use art, nature and movement to address collective and individual grief.
Monthly Grief Support Group
The adult grief support group meets monthly at 4 different locations and also meets virtually. The dates for September are:
9/12/24: 1pm – 2:30pm at the Clarks Sports Center, Cooperstown
9/17/24: 10am – 11:30am at the St. James Church, Oneonta
9/19/24: 2pm – 3:30pm at the New Hope Community Church, Walton
9/25/24: 10am – 11:30am at the Cobleskill United Methodist Church, Cobleskill
Resources for Kids
The all-day Camp Forget-Me-Not for children is a free camp for children who have lost a loved one. The camp is designed to meet them where they are in their grief journey and give them the support to express their feelings.
Coping kits have been developed by our grief professionals and are available to order for kids in need. Each kit includes tools designed to help children honor their loved one and explore their grief through beneficial activities.
The Gathering Place in Oneonta
On the second Wednesday of every month at the Gathering Place, a new topic will be discussed by a Helios Care professional pertaining to our services. In September, the topic will be on anticipatory grief, called “The Very Long Goodbye”. This will be a roundtable discussion focusing on how anticipatory grief is a natural response that occurs before the loss of a loved one. This event will be on Wednesday, September 11th at 12:30pm.
More resources:
