Every student deserves to feel accepted, understood, and supported after a loss. Grief can occur from any type of loss, change, or transition (not only death losses). For example: friendship changes, break ups, moving schools/states, natural disasters, man-made disasters, medical diagnoses, physical changes, financial changes, etc.
Anxiety is one of the most commonly felt emotions after a loss, yet those experiencing anxiety often live those moments alone. Grief can make us feel as if we’ve lost our sense of safety and control. It’s natural and normal to feel anxious or worried about what might happen next or even to worry that we might lose someone else in the future.
The initial loss of a loved one is a traumatic experience all on it’s own, but the multitude of losses that follow are surprising, and just as painful.
What and why are these secondary losses so troubling? Why do they feel so heavy?
Secondary losses are a normal and expected part of grief. Identifying and acknowledging them is the first step in processing them and moving forward.
Experiencing loss—whether it’s the passing of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a major life change—can feel overwhelming and disorienting. In the midst of grief, it’s easy to feel stuck, unsure of how to move forward.
Healing takes time. Grief cannot be fixed or hurried, but nourished and supported. Establishing small, intentional habits can help rebuild a sense of stability and hope after loss.
Together, we’ll explore seven simple but powerful habits to incorporate into your daily life after loss—practices that foster healing, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose.
What do you say to someone who has just had their life ripped apart by grief? Their life will never be the same, and for a long while they will sit with grief and there is nothing anyone can do to change that. Let’s face it. Grief is awkward. So how do we navigate supporting and caring for those who are grieving?
When we go through something traumatic, our bodies react. It knows there is a system failure and goes into a “shock” which manifests in a myriad of physical and behavioral reactions. Grief is felt everywhere, but we are really only told how we will feel emotionally…sad. The truth is, our whole body is sad, but it shows us in many different ways.
Movies centered on grief provide a unique and powerful way to explore the complex emotions of loss, healing, and resilience. By telling stories of characters navigating their own grief journeys, these types of films can offer comfort, validation, and insight to viewers who may be dealing with similar emotions.
I’m Jill, a professional griever. When I was 16 months old, my biological father left me and my 24-year-old mother for the day, took his small aircraft up over our family ranch, crashed and was killed. From that day on my life was forever altered. I spent my entire childhood and young adulthood grieving, healing, questioning, grieving, and healing some more.
