My Grief Connection Blog - MY GRIEF CONNECTION

2/28/2021

Nampa, Idaho Grief & Loss Support Group - March-May 2021

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Nampa, Idaho Grief & Loss Support Group Starting on Thursday, March 4, 2021 from 7:00 PM-8:00 PM MST

Nampa, Idaho Grief & Loss Support Group
Starting on Thursday, March 4, 2021 from 7:00 PM-8:00 PM MST

First United Methodist Church (GPS room/portable),
2717 12th Ave. Rd., Nampa, ID 83686

Group will be held on the following dates:
March 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th
April 1st, 8th, 15th, & 29th (NO CLASS Thursday April 22nd)
May 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th

This group is in person so attendees will need to wear masks and agree
to appropriate social distancing to participate (Keeping 6 foot distance
from others). Due to Covid-19 safety precautions the number of people
allowed into the group is limited to the same 10 people, all of whom
will be screened for Covid-19 symptoms.

This is a "closed group" meaning that there are no drop-ins and you
will need to pre-register. For more details or to pre-register, please email
Bonnie at: nampacounselingsolutions@gmail.com
Be sure to leave a phone number where she can contact you to determine
if this group is a good fit for you.

2/28/2021

Coping With Guilt When You're Grieving Webinar - 16 Mar 2021

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Coping With Guilt When You're Grieving Webinar
March 16, 2021 from 12:00 - 1:00 PM EST

Guilt is one of the most common emotions to experience after loss, but it can be the result of good people being much too hard on themselves. Although sometimes there really is something worth feeling guilty about, guilt can also result from good people being much too hard on themselves. We can sometimes expect way too much of ourselves and beat ourselves up when we don’t fulfill those expectations. It’s important to notice this kind of thinking when it occurs, because it can stand in our way of healthy grieving. In this webinar, Dr. David Feldman
will discuss common ways we can be way too hard on ourselves after a loss, along with tips about how to be kinder to ourselves. Presented by the TAPS Institute for Hope and Healing®, this webinar is free
and open to the public. Continuing education credit is not available.

Register at https://www.taps.org/webinar/2021/grief-and-guilt

Learn more about all that T.A.P.S. offers by visiting www.taps.org and/or email Institute@taps.org
or call at 800-959-8277 (TAPS) with any questions.

2/27/2021

HOW TO HANDLE COVID-RELATED LIFE CHANGES

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How to Handle COVID-Related
Life Changes

HOW TO HANDLE COVID-RELATED LIFE CHANGES

Photo Credit: Pexels.com

COVID-19 has changed lives all over the world. Since the pandemic began, you've probably had to adapt some
of your everyday habits, like how you workout or where you shop. Handling all these changes is stressful.
As Psychology Today explains, humans are naturally resistant to change.

COVID creates an especially tricky situation because it's very much beyond our control. My Grief Connection highlights some of the common emotions people are grappling with due to "Corona Grief," like difficulty concentrating and headaches. Luckily, there are resources available to help. The below guide covers life changes you may be experiencing as a result of COVID-19 and provides tips and tools on how to handle them.

You've lost your job.

According to USA Today, the unemployment rate is historically high. If you've lost your job, look for temp work
to make ends meet while you line up your next opportunity. The Work at Home Wife lists work-from-home
jobs that even provide paid training, from companies like Hilton, goFLUENT, and more.

You might also seize this opportunity to start your own business. Forming a limited liability company (LLC) allows you to enjoy tax advantages and protects your personal assets in case of liability claims. You don't have to pay an expensive attorney to file the paperwork to start an LLC. Business formation services are an affordable alternative.

You're spending more time at home.

Stay-at-home orders and concerns about infection have had people spending more time at home in the past year.
If you're starting to feel cooped up, it's time to make a change. Eliminate the negative energy of the past, and usher in positive vibes by cleansing your home. Get rid of clutter, open the windows to let in some fresh air, and smudge the room with sage. You can also get some affordable aromatherapy candles with soothing scents like lavender and lemongrass to create a more peaceful atmosphere.

Your social life has taken a blow.

As people spend less time outside of the home, they are also experiencing a decrease in social interactions. According to Medical News Today, humans are a naturally social species, and maintaining an active social life promotes physical and mental wellbeing. Look for new ways to reconnect with friends and family now that your social opportunities outside of the house have become more limited. You might watch a movie or television show with a pal using a tool like Netflix Party, for example, or have a "family dinner" via Zoom with loved ones who are located far away.

You're struggling to take care of yourself.

You may find it more difficult to take care of yourself as you deal with COVID-related change. This is understandable, especially if you are facing mental health hurdles like depression. As Harvard explains, depression changes the way the brain works — even causing cognitive impairments like memory loss, in some cases.

Motivating yourself to eat right and exercise in this state is tough. To cope, seek support. Make meal prep a family activity instead of doing it alone, for example. For exercise, try lining up a workout buddy and joining a Zoom fitness class. Cnet offers a list of five great options.

You've lost a loved one.

Finally, one of the biggest uncontrollable changes COVID may have introduced into your life is the loss of a loved one. If you are struggling with grief as a result, it's important to seek help. Look for support groups in your area via platforms like My Grief Connection. If you feel yourself struggling emotionally, don't hesitate to seek therapy. Platforms like BetterHelp allow you to get the assistance you need virtually and are more affordable than in-person counseling. You shouldn't have to grapple with grief alone.

The changes brought on by COVID-19 aren't always easy. However, they can be managed with the right resources and support. Hopefully, the above guide has given you some inspiration on how to get the support you need.

My Grief Connection provides grief services for children, teens, and families. Whether you are dealing with loss or COVID grief, find out how we can help.

Author Bio:
Jennifer Scott is a lifelong sufferer of anxiety and depression. A single mom, she writes about the ups and downs
of her mental illness on SpiritFinder.org. The blog serves as both a source of information for people with mental
illness and a forum where those living with anxiety and depression can come together to discuss their experiences.

2/26/2021

2nd Annual Bereaved Mother's Day Virtual Conference 2021 - 02 May 2021

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2nd Annual Bereaved Mother's Day Virtual Conference 2021, Sunday, May 2, 2021 from 9:00 AM - 4 PM CST.

2nd Annual Bereaved Mother's Day Virtual Conference 2021
Save the Date: Sunday, May 2, 2021 from 9:00 AM - 4 PM CST.
Celebrating and honoring the beautiful BeReAVEd mother that you are!
Guest Speakers/Experts in the Field of Grief & Bereavement - Healing Sound Bath - Guided Meditation
- Powerful Yoga Flow - Therapeutic Art - Writing through Grief - Special Performances - Prize Giveaways and MORE!

Honor yourself and the life of your child as you connect with other grieving moms from around the world and experience healing! Feel refreshed and empowered to navigate your grief journey with purpose and possibility!
Invite your best girlfriends & supporters to join you as they will learn ways to support you.

*Proceeds benefit the Bereavement Fund at Children's Hospital Wisconsin and each guest
speaker's individual charity of choice

Every purchase through April 18 receives a FREE card deck set of 52-Week Affirmations for Grieving Parents
(a $20 value) delivered to your door!

Don't wait... these are only available for purchases made by April 18!

Click the images below to purchase tickets or learn more information.
Use the discount code CONNECTION20 to get $20 OFF your registration fees.

2/24/2021

The Grief Summit - 28 Feb 2021

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The Grief Summit Sunday, February 28th from 12:00 - 4:00 PM EST

The Grief Summit
Sunday, February 28th from 12:00 - 4:00 PM EST
The Resilience Collective will be hosting "The Grief Summit," a free, virtual conference exploring collective grief
and rituals, pathways, and possibilities for healing on. In the wake of the pandemic and systemic injustice,
we find ourselves facing vast, collective grief. How we meet and mourn our losses has radically changed.
We have been forced to create new rituals and gather virtually. We have unearthed new ways to witness our
grief and build resilience together. This summit will gather teachers, healers, and community leaders from
around the world to share learnings and build solidarity. It will explore:
- Storytelling and the role of creativity in our journeys through grief
- How family-directed funerals build resilience and strength in navigating grief
- How rituals and new traditions influence the ways we experience grief
- How to stay present and hopeful amidst immense losses
- How to talk about death and grief
Any and all who wish to explore resilience in grief together are welcome. This summit may be particularly
helpful for healthcare professionals, educators, artists, psychologists and therapists, coaches, activists
(and aspiring activists), somatic practitioners, and mindfulness practitioners.
- You are encouraged to join if you:
- Want to learn more about cultivating resilience in grief
- Wish to understand more about community death care
- Are seeking meaningful language to speak about grief, both individually and in the workplace
- Need a supportive community of fellow professionals finding collective resilience
There is no cost to attend. We will be gathering virtually for the sake of safety in the time of COVID.
The Grief Summit will be recorded and a few weeks following the event, The Resilience Collective
will share a recording of on their website.
Register to attend for FREE at:  https://resilience-collective.com/grief-summit

2/22/2021

Sibling Support Group Hosted By Eric's House

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Sibling Support Group Hosted By Eric's House

Sibling Support Group Hosted By Eric's House

Teens 13-18 years old who have lost a sibling are invited to join EricsHouse.org
along with facilitator Vanessa Baker, of vanessabakermindset.com,
for weekly support conversations on Mondays, from 7-8pm MST
via Zoom between March 1 - 29, 2021.

Vanessa is the author of "Mean to Real Clean", has been featured in the
media, and is a leading coach for growth.com. She is passionate about
working with teenagers, and she is also a suicide survivor.

There is not cost to join. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/supportsibs

2/11/2021

Do People Hide Their Grief Over Overdose-Related Deaths Because of Addiction-Related Stigmas?

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Do People Hide Their Grief Over Overdose-Related Deaths Because of Addiction-Related Stigmas?

Bottle of Oxycodone on its side with pills spilled out onto the table

Drug addiction is a severe health danger that can put people at a high risk of many health issues. Sadly, many individuals die from overdoses every year, and their loved ones may struggle to understand this situation. Even worse, stigmas on addiction may make this mourning process and treatments such as rehab for mental illness harder to process appropriately.

Addiction-Related Stigmas Exist

Stigmas can be tough to fight because they are often so ingrained in culture and how people perceive the world. For example, stigmas about addiction – and other mental health illnesses – can paint a damaging picture. The idea that a person with an addiction is "weak" or "immoral" is widespread, and so is the idea that they "deserve" to suffer from addiction.

These stigmas are a real issue because they create a feeling of otherness to those with an addiction. This scenario strips them of their humanity and can make it harder for people to feel sympathy for them. Unfortunately, these stigmas can affect the loved ones of a person who has an addiction and make that individual's overdose death harder to mourn or accept.

Whether that loved one feels unable to mourn due to stigmas placed on the situation by others or by themselves is irrelevant – a stigma is a stigma. These feelings make it harder for a person to mourn a loved one. Instead of healing, they might face a challenging journey that may affect their recovery and cause a high level of emotional suffering that refuses to go away.

Why People Hide Grief

Many people hide grief over a loved one's death, an emotional reaction that is understandable but ultimately unhealthy. The reasons for this behavior can be quite complex, particularly if an individual experienced conflict with the person who passed. Overdose deaths might make a person's struggles with mourning even more difficult.
First of all, a person might disown a loved one with an addiction and may not recognize them in their life. Or, loved ones might be mourning a person with an addiction before they die because their addiction has changed the person and their lives so drastically. An individual may feel shame from others in their community and deal with their shame by hiding their mourning and depression.

But unprocessed emotions can challenge a person, making it difficult for them to move on from a loss. Even though they don't publicly – or even personally – admit to their grief, it exists. Left to fester, negative emotions such as grief can worsen and cause more damaging emotional health issues. Therefore, it is essential to fight addiction stigmas and process death properly.

Ways to Fight Stigma

Fighting the stigma against addiction starts by understanding your emotions. Sometimes people do not realize that they feel stigmas or behave in ways that may upset or damage their loved ones. For instance, individuals may use language that is very negative towards addiction and people with this disease, which may affect how they think about it.

This type of language includes terms such as addict, junkie, user, or drunk. These terms are harmful and can create a stigma in a person's mind. The terms put the disease before the person by defining them by it. As a result, those who use these terms reinforce the mistaken belief that a person with addiction chooses to be addicted, worsening their stigma.

Instead, it is crucial to understand that addiction is a disease, one that requires professional rehab help to combat. People do not choose to be addicted and they aren’t solely defined by their addictions. They are people who also have addictions to drugs or alcohol, not addicts, junkies, or drunks.

Accepting these distinctions can make it easier for a person to grieve their loved ones and adequately mourn them. Remember – mourning is an essential part of recovery after death, and removing addiction stigmas may allow a person to accept death and avoid hiding their emotions.

Ways You Can Help

If someone is suffering from grief due to the overdose death of a loved one, you could suggest that they talk with a therapist or another professional. By talking with therapists, people can explore and express their feelings without judgement. Therapists can help people acknowledge their grief while helping them navigate their new lives without their loved ones. Support groups can also provide assistance. Groups such as Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing (GRASP) include members who have suffered similar losses. GRASP notes that people sometimes treat addiction-related deaths differently, so it “was created to offer understanding, compassion, and support for those who have lost someone they love through addiction and overdose.”

There are grief support groups in specific geographic areas and ones that allow people to meet virtually or use online services to share and find information. The groups provide support and let people know that they’re not alone. They remind people that others have had similar experiences and are willing to help.

Assistance can also come in other forms. Instead of asking a grieving person what you can do, do something. You can:

Bring them meals.
Buy them gift cards to their favorite stores or restaurants.
Do chores for them.
Listen to them.

You can also help them find resources that address grief. Grief can be overwhelming. Helping people find some information can help them -- and you -- better understand what might be happening.

Just talking can also provide assistance. People might be worried that grieving people don’t want to talk about their loved ones, but the opposite is often true. By sharing stories and memories about their loved one, you allow people to discuss their grief and what their loved one meant to them.

By helping people take control of their emotional health, you give them a better chance to be happy and healthy. Just as importantly, they can give their loved ones the love and attention they need so they can also mourn and address their emotions.

Author bio: Patrick Bailey is a professional writer mainly in the fields of mental health, addiction, and living in recovery. He attempts to stay on top of the latest news in the addiction and the mental health world and enjoys writing about these topics to break the stigma associated with them.

Sources

drugabuse.gov – Addressing the Stigma That Surrounds Addiction
drugabuse.gov – Words Matter – Terms to Use and Avoid When Talking About Addiction
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – Understanding Stigma of Mental and Substance Use Disorders
ncbi.nlm.nlh.gov – Grief and Mourning Gone Awry: Pathway and Course of Complicated Grief
grieflink.org.au – Unrecognized or Hidden Grief
samhsa.gov – The Power of Perceptions and Understand: Changing How We Deliver Treatment and Recovery Services
grasphelp.org - About Us (GRASP)
mygriefconnection.org - In-Person Support Groups
medlineplus.gov - Bereavement
cdc.gov - Grief and Loss

2/6/2021

Journey to Hope Support Group

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Journey to Hope Support Group

Journey to Hope Support Group
Via Zoom from 6:00 - 7:30 PM, Thursdays, February 18th – April 15th, 2021

If you or someone you know is a young adult (ages 18-30) who is looking
for tools to help journey through the grief process, please check out the
2021 Virtual Young Adult Grief Support Group, Journey to Hope, from
Highmark Caring Place. This virtual/social setting is designed to be an
educational support group focused on empowering young adults to learn
how to navigate their “new reality." For additional information or to
RSVP, e-mail Davina Pacley at davina.pacley@highmark.com
or call 866-212-4673 or 814-871-6868.

2/4/2021

AFTR.Live GroundCam

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AFTR.Live MountCam

AFTR.Live GroundCam

AFTR.Live GroundCam

We are so excited to have recently partnered with @aftr_live
as a brand ambassador. Check out the interview with our Founder,
Sara Cobb, recently did with them on their blog to learn more about our
story and her passion to serve the grief community.

Read the blog post here:
https://www.aftr.live/en/blog/sara-cobb--my-grief-connection

We know that the AFTR GroundCam will be a source of great comfort and connection to so many grieving families. The company launched the first-ever gravesite camera system that includes a mobile application and headstone camera, and provides AFTR Messaging, which securely delivers pre-recorded memories and messages from people who have passed away.

AFTR has changed the way people visit burial sites - forever.

For more information about the AFTR GroundCam visit https://aftr.live/
Use the code MGC-10 for 10% OFF your purchase.

2/4/2021

Trauma Healing Support Circle - 28 Feb 2021

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TRAUMA HEALING SUPPORT CIRCLE - 28 FEB 2021

Trauma Healing Support Circle
All are welcome to join this entirely online trauma support group hosted by
For You Network. This group is is welcoming, non-judgmental, all inclusive group for everyone. It will be especially helpful for those with a desire to heal the impact of trauma, support the healing of a loved one, and connect with other people on similar journeys of recovery. Whether the sudden and tragic death
of a loved one, an unexpected severe physical injury, an unhealthy relationship ending in heartbreak, a humiliating experience in childhood, a chaotic and
dysfunctional upbringing, sexual abuse, domestic violence, suicide by
someone close to you or thoughts of it yourself, addiction habits, battle with
mental health illness, or any other form of trauma you have endured.
You are not alone.

Upcoming meetings:
Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 6:15 PM MST – 7:30 PM MST
Follow the For You Network on Facebook and visit their events page for
details on how to join the support group circle. See the discussion posts in each scheduled event for link to join the group on Google Meet video chat
(video is optional, you can just use audio if you prefer).
https://www.facebook.com/events/2811747015763616

**Adults and mature teens only**

2/2/2021

Spirit Vessel -Mindfully Crafted Ceramic Urns and Personalized Celebration Of Life Ceremonies

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SPIRIT VESSEL -MINDFULLY CRAFTED CERAMIC URNS AND PERSONALIZED CELEBRATION OF LIFE CEREMONIES

Spirit Vessel
Spirit Vessel helps guide you and your loved ones through a deeper,
more intimate layer of life by way of personalized ceremony. They provide support and tools for at home, intimate, personalized ceremonies, in which
you can participate by yourself or with others. They offer Mindfully Crafted Ceramic Urns and Personalized Celebration Of Life Ceremonies to assist in grieving, honoring, and celebrating you or your loved one. Their ceremonies recognize
and highlight the joy of our loved one's life while holding space for the complexities of grief for those left to live on. The Spirit Vessel studio is
located in southwest New Mexico, where each ceramic urn is handmade
and mindfully crafted with love and intention. Whether you are grieving the
loss of a loved one, preparing for an imminent death, or taking steps to plan
for your own death, they provide resources to help you create connectivity
and integrate your emotions around loss.

Discover more at: https://bit.ly/2YBrkJP