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Let the joy your loved one's life brought to you begin to take the place of the hurt and pain of death. |
The
second Tuesday of each month
Sponsors Penwell Gabel Webb and Rodrick Funeral Home
(620)
331-3900
Four County (620) 331-1748
Harry Hynes (620) 251-1640 |
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A GRIEF
SUPPORT GROUP
is co-sponsored
by Penwell Gabel Webb and Rodrick Funeral Home, Four County Mental Health Center,
and Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. This ongoing Grief
Support Group is available to anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one. This group is for anyone whose life has been affected by loss and wants to know how to help themselves or those they care about. The focus of this group is to help individuals and families understand and cope with their grief in the first years following the death of their loved ones. Anyone is welcome to come to the group – pre-registration is not necessary. |
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WHO MAY ATTEND?
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NORMAL REACTIONS TO LOSS |
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Grief differs based on who we are, whom we have lost, and how much our
day-to-day life is altered by the death. A normal reaction to loss, grief is
unique in its impact, course and meaning to each of us. Experiencing the
loss of a partner, a parent or sibling, or a lifelong friend, with whom we
share history, often has special meaning to us. Thinking about reactions to the loss of a loved one, we tend to think only of the emotional reactions. Yet, people also experience physical and behavioral reactions. The intensity of grief changes over time and through personal growth. Some of the most typical emotional, physical, and behavioral reactions include the following: |
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Immediate Reactions — The first few weeks following death: · Emotional: Shock, relief, release · Physical: Numbness, shortness of breath, heavy chest, empty feeling · Behavioral: Denial, disorientation, crying, listlessness Later Reactions — After the shock wears off, you begin to experience feelings again · Emotional: Anger, fear, guilt, panic, loneliness, depression · Physical: Chest pains, headaches, fatigue, vulnerability to illness, · Behavioral: Over-reactive, hyper-sensitive, sleeplessness, isolation, need to relive death Adjustment — A time when you think you are going to "make it": · Emotional: Taking responsibility, reconstructing your life · Physical: Looking forward, doing things for oneself · Behavioral: Exploring new interests, personal growth |
| COPING WITH GRIEF AND LOSS | |
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For weeks after a death, most caring families and friends do all that they
can to comfort us, making life as comfortable as possible. Many times, we
are still in shock, accepting this support in a daze. Gradually, those
around us return to their normal lives, but we do not. The reality of the
situation may lead you to think "I am alone," but you are not. Others who
have felt what you are feeling now stand ready to help. This is the focus
of the Grief Support Group.
If you are coping with a significant loss in your life and wish to better understand the grief that accompanies such loss, this support group may offer the information, comfort and support that you need as you proceed along your grief journey, to help you make some sense out of what you may be feeling, to prepare you for what to expect in grief, and to help you find meaning, growth, and healing along the way. Whether the loss was recent or long ago, it may still be limiting your ability to participate fully in life. |
| Resources and Help in the Southeast Kansas Area |