Grieving Ain’t Easy.
It’s time for grief to be acknowledged as an emotional process versus a psychological one. If we cannot feel our experiences of loss, we are stuck in grief. Our loss wants us to create space to flow through the emotions of grief anytime they arise.
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Social Responses to Loss and Grief: The Stuff We Don’t Discuss
Safe Space in a Guided Workbook
by Tairesha (Sunflower) Flemister
Loss and grief are emotionally isolating experiences. Family dynamics shift, social supports are in flux, and life keeps going in a way that forces emotional constipation. This safe space guided workbook provides support from a licensed Holistic Grief and Wellness Practitioner, who has experienced loss, grief, and recovery in the midst of socially suffocating responses. Whether your loss is a death or non-death experience, the 25+ journal prompts within this workbook will aid you in exploring and validating your inner world.
Book Recommendations
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Authors: John W. James and Russell Friedman
"Incomplete recovery from grief can have a lifelong negative effect on the capacity for happiness. Drawing from their own histories as well as from others', the authors illustrate how it is possible to recover from grief and regain energy and spontaneity." -
Author: Megan Devine
"In It’s OK That You’re Not OK, Megan Devine offers a profound new approach to both the experience of grief and the way we try to help others who have endured tragedy. Having experienced grief from both sides―as both a therapist and as a woman who witnessed the accidental drowning of her beloved partner―Megan writes with deep insight about the unspoken truths of loss, love, and healing." -
Author: Shelby Forsythia
"Everyone experiences grief differently after the loss of a loved one. Some people find solace in comforting quotes and warm words, while others feel a need to take action--to do something to memorialize their loss. And some benefit from both approaches. Here's a path forward for you, no matter how you process your grief." -
Author: Marisa Renee Lee
"In Grief is Love, author Marisa Renee Lee reveals that healing does not mean moving on after losing a loved one—healing means learning to acknowledge and create space for your grief. It is about learning to love the one you lost with the same depth, passion, joy, and commitment you did when they were alive, perhaps even more." -
Author: Whitney Hanson
"In this exquisite poetry collection, Whitney Hanson, chronicles the loss of a loved one, tracing the progression of grief and healing through the lens of music." -
Author: Judith Viorst
"In Necessary Losses, Judith Viorst turns her considerable talents to a serious and far-reaching subject: how we grow and change through the losses that are a certain and necessary part of life. She argues persuasively that through the loss of our mothers’ protection, the loss of the impossible expectations we bring to relationships, the loss of our younger selves, and the loss of our loved ones through separation and death, we gain deeper perspective, true maturity, and fuller wisdom about life."
Podcast Recommendations
Grief Facts
Grief Facts
Mental Health and Grief
Mental Health Impacts: Grief can lead to or exacerbate mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that depression alone costs the global economy $1 trillion annually in lost productivity.
Employee Burnout: Employees struggling with unresolved grief are more likely to experience burnout, with symptoms including emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a decreased sense of personal accomplishment. Burnout significantly contributes to turnover rates and further financial losses for companies.
General Well-Being and Grief
Physical Health Consequences: Grief has been linked to a weakened immune system, increased risk of heart disease, and other chronic health conditions. The stress of grieving can manifest physically, leading to a greater likelihood of illness and long-term health problems.
Social Isolation: Grieving individuals often feel isolated, which can worsen their mental and emotional health. This isolation can lead to a cycle of withdrawal and reduced social interaction, further impairing their ability to function both personally and professionally.
Grief in the Workplace: Corporate Responsibility and Support
Economic Impact: Grief-related losses in the workplace are substantial. The Grief Recovery Institute estimates that grief costs U.S. businesses over $75 billion annually due to lost productivity, absenteeism, and errors.
Employee Absenteeism: A study from the American Hospice Foundation found that employees experiencing grief take an average of 13 days off per year due to bereavement, which can extend even longer depending on the relationship to the deceased.
Reduced Productivity: The same study highlighted that grief can lead to a 30% reduction in workplace productivity, lasting anywhere from six months to over a year.
Need for Grief Support Programs: A 2019 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 86% of HR professionals believe that workplace grief programs could improve employee well-being, yet only 24% of companies had such programs in place.
Employer Support: Providing grief support and mental health resources can significantly improve employee satisfaction, loyalty, and retention. Companies that invest in employee well-being see higher levels of engagement and overall job satisfaction, leading to better business outcomes.