Tuesday, August 30 marked National Grief Awareness Day. National Grief Awareness Day was founded in 2014 by Angie Cartwright, a public speaker and activist, and occurs on her mother’s birthday. Cartwright knows what it was like to be overwhelmed with grief through her personal experiences of losing her sister, her husband and then her mother. In creating this special day, her hope was to raise awareness around the various ways in which we cope with loss and how painful and impactful grief can be. Grief Awareness Day aims to encourage open communication on loss and bereavement, while also informing the public about the facts of grief.
While grief is a very common and enduring aspect of the human experience, it is rarely talked about. We cope with grief in day-to-day life, whether that be a career transition, a breakup, the loss of an experience/ritual, a traumatic event, the loss of a pet, etc. Plus, we’re constantly being bombarded with news, events and experiences that may cause us to experience collective grief and trauma. So, in this edition of MHM, we want to talk about grief, which is the outward expression of loss. Mourning is the natural process you go through to accept a major loss.
Grief can be expressed physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Some ways grief can manifest include crying, depression, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, loss of energy and more. We all grieve differently, and there is no right way to grieve. Grief is messy and untidy. What’s important is to allow yourself to feel and express these feelings and remember there is no timeline for grieving. Grief never really goes away or gets smaller, but we learn to grow around our grief.
Unfortunately, grief is something we all experience. If you are grieving or mourning someone or something, be easy on yourself. Surround yourself with people who can meet you where you are, talk about it, take care of your health and seek outside help when necessary. If your grief seems all-consuming, seek professional assistance to help work through it. Asking for help doesn’t make you weak. In fact, it makes you strong.
When someone you care about is experiencing grief, it can be challenging to know what to say or do. Words, cards, and flowers often feel inadequate, but showing up for someone grieving is good enough. This could look like calling, texting, or meeting in person. Simply tell them that you're thinking of them and you're there to listen when they're ready to talk. If you can support them beyond checking in, one way to help is with practical tasks like bringing them a meal, helping with errands, childcare, etc. Also, don’t let the call drop. Keep checking in. Grief never goes away. You could ask how they’re handling their grief or ask, "How are you today?”
Grief comes in waves. Know that we're here to ride them with you. If you need mental health support or resources for yourself or a loved one, call us 24/7 at 913-268-0156 or text 741-741
Photo by Isabella Akhtarshenas
