By Dr. Ginger Gabriel
Special to the Alpine Mountaineer
“My journey through grief was a lot more difficult than I had thought it would be,” confided Susan to the group gathered for the first session of GriefShare. “That’s why I’m here.”
Laura had not planned on participating in the share part of the GriefShare program, but she did open up to the group after watching the second week’s video. “I thought I was going crazy from the moment I was told that my husband had died. The person on the video described those ‘crazy’ feelings of grief as normal. It’s a relief to know I’m not crazy. I’m a normal person experiencing a significant loss.”
The death of a loved one often affects every aspect of your life. It can feel like you’re alone. Few people understand how painful and isolating your grief can be, unless they have been through it. The death of a child, the death of a spouse – you can’t know what it’s like unless it has happened to you. But that doesn’t mean you have to suffer alone.
GriefShare is a 13-week grief recovery support group where you will hear insights from grief recovery experts on each week’s 30-minute video. You will meet others who understand what you’re going through. You will receive comfort and support. You will learn tips for navigating your grief. And you will begin to recognize the six signs that you are on the road to healing.
At GriefShare, you’ll find a safe, comforting place where you can talk with others about your grief. You will find support, direction and guidance on how to make it through.
Some people feel anxious about walking into a new place, unsure of whether they would be accepted. At GriefShare there will be some “second-timers” to greet you in the parking lot, to help you feel welcome and invited. After the first few sessions, you’ll begin to notice that you look forward to coming. You’ll find it comforting to be around people who truly “get” what you’re going through – the emotions, mental fog, questions and exhaustion – because they’re dealing with it, too.
In the videos and workbook, you’ll meet people who have walked through grief and who share what has been helpful for them. You will get helpful advice from people from all walks of life who have experienced deep loss themselves. No two people go through grief in the same way. And at GriefShare there is no pressure to talk about your story.
One gentleman commented on his way out of the last meeting: “What I mostly got out of this program is not what people said, but that you all listened to me as I told bits and pieces of my story. You listened. Nobody else has done that for me. Thank you!”
You are not meant to linger in a grief state the rest of your life. If you are stuck in grief, we may be able to help you. This is not a counseling session. Over one million people have found healing through GriefShare.
Beginning on Thursday, April 2 – and every Thursday through June 25 – GriefShare will meet for 13 sessions at the Lake Gregory Church, 460 Pine Drive in Crestline. GriefShare will begin at 3:30 p.m. and end at 5 p.m. The church phone number is (909) 338-2813.
Many questions can be answered at info@griefshare.org or by calling (800) 395-5755.
To register for the GriefShare program or ask questions, call Dr. Ginger Gabriel (leave message and phone number) at (909) 214-7485 or email her at askdrginger9@gmail.
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