Grief and Trauma

Krista – “Exercise to get it out”

November 11, 2019

Krista tells how she releases stress through kickboxing. Krista continues to grieve the death of her son from opioid overdose.

Death By Overdose / Death of a Child / Grief and Trauma / Video

Krista – “Opioids and Mental Illness”

December 4, 2019

Krista talks about opioids and mental health. Krista continues to grieve the death of her son from opioid overdose.

Death By Overdose / Death of a Child / Death of A Loved One / Grief and Trauma / Video

Donna B – “A Mother salutes her son”

October 1, 2019

Donna tells her story of joining the army after her son was already a soldier. Donna continues to grieve the death her son during service in Afghanistan.

Death During Service / Death of a Child / Grief and Trauma / Video

Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Other Special Days

September 15, 2022

When we are grieving, some days are more difficult than others. Grief comes in waves like the sea and can feel like an intertwining labyrinth of emotions. Birthdays, anniversaries, and special dates that are associated with our loved one who has died can contribute to more emotionally intense days which can be worsened through the anticipation and “what ifs” of the upcoming day. These difficult days can leave us feeling defeated and it can almost feel like we’ve taken two steps backward in our grieving process, but grief does not have a timeline, and these feelings of setbacks are opportunities for healing.

Blog Post / Collective/Community Grief / Death and Grief During a Pandemic / Grief and Trauma / I Am A Griever

Sarah K – Story

February 7, 2022

Sarah tells the story of her husbands death to a heroin overdose.

Death By Overdose / Grief and Trauma / My Story Video / Video

Christian – “Stigma of opioid death”

October 1, 2019

Christian talks about the social acceptance of an opioid overdose.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Death By Overdose / Grief and Trauma / Video

Sarah K – Talking to my kids

February 7, 2022

Sarah discusses the challenges of discussing her kids about their Dad;s death to heroin and helping them on their journey through grief

Death By Overdose / Grief and Trauma / Supporting Others / Video

Rev. Sky – “Retraumatization”

December 10, 2018

Rev. Sky discusses trauma and re-experiencing the initial emotion had at the beginning of a loss.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Grief and Trauma / Video

Jaylene Delorme-Buggins – “We Matter Campaign”

December 17, 2018

Jaylene talks about addiction, abuse, loss and how she turned her life around.

Grief and Trauma / Support for Indigenous Youth / Video

Bryan – Empathy for others

October 30, 2021

Bryan talks about how losing his father to gun violence was difficult and how taking things day by day helped him get through many difficult times. Now he wants to help children who are going through something similar to what he did. Things will get better and there is always a light at the end of the tunnel

Death of a Parent / Grief and Trauma / Video

Helping Others Help You Through Grief

April 13, 2022

Post by Maureen Pollard, MSW, RSW When you’ve experienced the death of a loved one, one of the most difficult things you will go through is trying to find out what helps you adjust to the loss. This can be compounded when others around you don’t understand what you’re going through, and don’t know how…

Blog Post / Death of A Loved One / Grief and Trauma / Supporting Others

When Death Feels like a Thief

August 24, 2022

In the heart of my grief, at my frailest, all I could see was what was no more. I grieved all that was stolen from me by death; love, security and even my very self. Had I known the value of having every pocket of who I was, picked bare by grief, I would not have fought so hard to hold onto it all.

Blog Post / Death and Grief During a Pandemic / Death By Overdose / Death During Service / Death of A Loved One / Grief and Trauma / I Am A Griever / Living with Dying / Perinatal / Suicide