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A Note from Dr. Rick Tedeschi

Posted on November 28, 2006 - by admin

Gloria?Here are the five domains of growth as we describe them on our website?www.ptgi.uncc.edu What forms does posttraumatic growth take? Posttraumatic growth tends to occur in five general areas. Sometimes people who must face major life crises develop a sense that new opportunities have emerged from the struggle, opening up possibilities that were not present before. A second area is a change in relationships with others. Some people experience closer relationships with some specific people, and they can also experience an increased sense of connection to others who suffer.. A third area of possible change is an increased sense of […]

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The Gift of Keith

Posted on November 28, 2006 - by Carol Loehr

Dear Friends, As you may know, our son Keith Loehr died by suicide in 1999. Since then, Carol has created and maintained a website to help those who have suffered a loss by suicide and to help counselors and clergy better understand depression and suicide. Carol has just recently published “My Uncle Keith Died” which is a children’s book to help families and children understand depression and understand the importance of talking about their feelings and getting help for people (especially children) who are depressed. Unfortunately, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in the USA among adolescents and […]

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Ten Things Every New Widow Should Know to Survive

Posted on November 27, 2006 - by Linda Della-Donna

Then you suddenly find yourself without your life partner, you don’t know what to expect. Your world’s been turned upside down. Like the mighty oak caught in a fierce wind, you feel uprooted. Your feet don’t touch the ground. You think you’re crazy. But you’re not. You’re just a new widow. Your husband is dead and your life is forever changed.

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Grief Poem: Where the Soul Never Dies

Posted on November 27, 2006 - by admin

This interesting article addresses some of the key issues regarding death resources. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about death. Each of us find ourselves wondering about dying. This introspective look at our future engages our hearts and minds to enter into what we cannot embrace. Sometimes, words are so limiting and are sometimes best captured in a poem. This poem is a reflection of what I am trying to describe. Where the Soul Never Dies Nature, a reflection of our soul, reveals the seasons of our lives. Like people, earth’s […]

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Grief Poem: Mother, I Don’t Mind The Pain

Posted on November 27, 2006 - by admin

I am among those who know that one never recovers from the loss of one deeply loved. We come to accept the death and adjust our lives – rather begrudingly, but we do not recover, we survive. Somewhere in the grief process, we make the decision to survive and then we are emotionally enabled to build a different kind of relationship with our deceased loved one. Mother, I Don’t Mind The Pain When you died my dearest, blessed mother, I had no sights or thoughts for tomorrow. My soul experienced a wrenching eruption

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Palliative Care – Helping You Care For Your Terminally Ill Loved One

Posted on November 27, 2006 - by admin

Ask most people what they know about Palliative Care and they will inevitably reply that it is intended for those who are dying. Undeniably, Palliative Care is available to support families at this sad time, however their services are equally intended to provide physical, emotional and spiritual support to the patient and their families as they journey through terminal illness.

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Song of Cy – Understanding Grief: Book Review

Posted on November 26, 2006 - by admin

Are you a step-parent, parent, sibling, grandparent or friend of a deceased person? Then this book is for you! A delicately written and moving piece of work that is electrically charged with Katlyn Stewart?s love and grief for her daughter. Join in the celebration of life through Katlyn?s tale recounting her daughter?s life and learn about the grieving process.

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Holiday Heartbreak

Posted on November 26, 2006 - by admin

It is the season to be jolly, as all the songs and magazine articles will tell you,but for some of us that is not how we feel. Family is the most important part of the Christmas season, the laughter,the visits of far away relatives,the children with their games and of course,last, but not least, the Turkey!! I remember many happy holiday times when all my family were gathered together to celebrate this wondrous season,we would share family stories,look at old photographs,play silly games and just revel in being together.

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I’ll Be Home for Christmas-A Poem About the First Christmas Without My Father

Posted on November 25, 2006 - by admin

This poem speaks for itself. It was written during the Christmas season just before the one-year anniversary of my father’s death. Though a bit sad, it does remind us of what is truly important in life. I?ll be home for Christmas, or so the story goes, is repeated year after year. Regardless of weather or holiday traffic, you?ll find your way home clean and clear. Christmas is one of the times we?re together, we smile and we talk and we eat.

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I Don’t Want To Do Christmas!

Posted on November 24, 2006 - by admin

Marianne sat on the edge of her seat, leaning towards me and, through her sobs and hiccoughs, stated very clearly, ?I don?t want to do Christmas!? ?I can?t, I just can?t.? Marianne was one of my clients, a middle-aged woman whose husband had died the previous year. She had gone through the first holiday season, one year ago, in a state of numbness after the unexpected death of her husband in November.

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