Do you swoon with grief

Posted October 8,

As I write this article, there have been over , deaths caused by Covid over the last two years in the United States alone. Almost a million deaths from Covid The pandemic grief is on top of any other types of grief we have experienced. For me personally, these personal challenges have been divorce, the reality of empty-nesting, and the death of my year-old dog, Gilly, just a few months ago. People in our families and communities have lost loved ones, jobs, homes, friends, and more. There has been loss upon loss upon loss, like we have not seen in our lifetimes. I separated from my ex-husband in July.

Do you swoon with grief

When my grandmother passed away a year and a half ago, I remember reading something that stuck with me through the pain:. Through sadness, heartbreak, grief and pain, we can still feel joy. At first it may seem impossible but somehow we pick ourselves back up and we smile again. We laugh again. We remember the little things in life that make us happy and focus on including more of that in our lives. Grief does not have a timeline. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Finding joy can take a long, long time. But sometimes, in the midst of seemingly never-ending tears, a smile will sneak up on you in the middle of nowhere. When you realize just how much the people you love in your life care about you and feel your pain right along with you. It has been a just over a week since Ryan and I learned we would never hold our baby in our arms. A hard week, an emotional week but, somehow, a week that also included small moments of joy and laughter. Over the course of the past eight days, I sometimes feel like I am trapped under a cloud but other times I feel a sense of normalcy because even in the moments when I feel like my life is on hold — like the whole world is running full-speed ahead and I am standing still — I am reminded that there is no pause button in life. I know I cannot wish, will or pray away my grief and, to be honest, while I believe and hope time will help heal my heart, I want to feel every ounce of sadness I am feeling right now because in some way it makes me feel closer to my baby. I'd love to connect with you!

Again, thank you.

The first year will hit you hard, but the second year may hit you even harder. Of course, it's important to mention that the below list of experiences is based on my personal relationship with grief and is not a universal explainer for everyone, especially since there are multiple ways grief can impact a person. However, I do hope that the below experiences will provide some insight on what this journey can be like for either you or a loved one you know. I also hope that this guide will make someone feel less alone, because grieving can be a lonely experience sometimes. Once you've experienced loss, it can be tough not to put yourself in someone else's shoes who may have also lost a loved one. It's a "skill" you gain that helps you connect with others in a much deeper way.

Have you ever felt a sudden pang of sadness? A bird seems to stop and look you in the eye. A photo drops out of a messy drawer from long ago, in the mundanity of a weekend spring clean. Your day is immediately derailed, unsettled. You are pulled into something you thought was past. And yet, in being pulled back, you are grateful, reconnected, and grief-stricken all over again. These are common cultural refrains in the face of loss. What if grief is a different thing altogether? We talked to 95 people about their experiences of grief surrounding the loss of a loved one, and their stories provided a fundamentally different account of grief to the one often presented to us culturally. Read more: Not all mourning happens after bereavement — for some, grief can start years before the death of a loved one.

Do you swoon with grief

But by understanding the stages and types of grief, you can find healthier ways to cope. Grief is a natural response to loss. Often, the pain of loss can feel overwhelming.

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Sending you joy, laughter and any soothing feelings that you need. One of the weirdest things that happens after losing a loved one is having your whole perspective on life shift. Register here! I write my grief , often in small groups of supportive women, and read my words out loud. I separated from my ex-husband in July. You are subscribed! I always tell them my joy comes from the Lord! Can they actually do anything? Time heals the heart, but we never forget. All the best to you and your family- take care of yourself! Hi Julie, I have been reading your blog for years but never commented, but I feel compelled to now. The views I express are mine alone, based on my own experiences, and should not be taken as medical advice.

Grief is a natural part of life and something we all experience.

May God bless and comfort you! Sending hugs and love your way. To lift each other out of the darkness. May the tears that flow be sweet. The stories of other women who have gone through loss were the most helpful and healing things for me during my last year. It's important to mention that this doesn't mean they don't love you or care about your grief, but it can feel lonely when people stop reaching out and you have to find alternative ways to cope or talk about the person. I have been reading your blog for years and although I have never commented before, I wanted to let you know that I am so very sorry for your loss. They learn quite quickly to hide their grief. However, we continue to have relationships all the time while in a variety of states of life experiences. I was mad for two weeks before I brought it up for discussion. She proposed that people transition through sequential stages of emotions when experiencing loss. Embrace the love from your family and from all of us who feel for you and want only the best for you in life. Grief heals when it is received by a caring other. Praying for you lovely!