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Emotions During COVID-19

Handling Emotions During COVID-19

Posted on April 27, 2020 - by Gloria Horsley

Are you wondering what to say or how to respond to others during this stressful time? Sheltering in place for this extended amount of time can create some uncomfortable interactions for both those inside and outside of the home. Today’s Facebook Live included Dr. Jill Harrington who discussed techniques to decrease stress and moderate responses to difficult situations and conversations during COVID-19. Increased Stress Everyone has experienced more stress during COVID-19. If you are a parent, you are worried about ensuring the kids are entertained, healthy, and busy with their online school work all while you are trying to navigate […]

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End of Life Issues During COVID-19

Posted on April 24, 2020 - by Gloria Horsley

Do you have a family member who has recently died?  Due to visitation restrictions, sheltering in, and social distancing, bereaved families are experiencing isolation and loneliness.  Barbara Karnes, RN, author, and educator, shared her thoughts on end of life care and self care during these stressful times as part of a recent podcast. Barbara’s experiences with hospice care can help provide a unique perspective on what’s happening during COVID-19. Hospice Care in the Age of COVID-19 Hospice care already comes with many obstacles, but COVID-19 has only added to those through the shelter-in-place mandate. Families are left with guilt, shame, […]

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Caregiver Burnout During COVID-19

Posted on April 23, 2020 - by Gloria Horsley

Are you feeling worried, anxious, and exhausted?  Who takes care of the caregiver? Social worker Rob Zucker, bereaved spouse and grief counselor, joined us for a discussion on our podcast about self-care during these stressful times.  Rob is the author of The Journey Through Grief and Loss:  Helping Yourself and Your Child When Grief is Shared. The Role of Caregiver This is a tough time for everyone, but it’s even harder for those that take on the role of caregiver. There is even more for them to do now to help keep their loved ones safe. In taking care of […]

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Loss

Support For High-Risk Individuals During COVID-19

Posted on April 20, 2020 - by Gloria Horsley

The loss of a loved one is powerful and can lead many to struggle with how to cope. Add other issues to this equation, and today’s high-risk individuals may be having a tougher time handling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. From survivors of suicide loss to those touched by death and loss in other ways, the need to shelter-in-place has made it more difficult to get much-needed support for everyone, including high-risk individuals. These high-risk individuals are those with a family history of addiction, suicide, and depression, which puts them at risk during this period of isolation. Navigating Tough Times Today, […]

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fear of dying

Affirmations to Ease Your Grief

Posted on April 18, 2020 - by Harriet Hodgson

Here are 10 affirmations from my book, 101 Affirmations to Ease Your Grief Journey, available from Amazon. As I reconcile my losses, I give myself permission to say no to things I do not want to do. Sorrow gives new—and surprising—meaning to my life. When I think of sorrow, I think of it as a sacred experience and place. Down days don’t defeat me; they are an opportunity to feel better tomorrow. I have promises to keep to my deceased loved one, myself, and my life. Despite the pain, the one-year anniversary of my loved one’s death proves I am […]

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The Awakening: A Widow-to-Be in Five Scenes

Posted on April 16, 2020 - by Ginny Grulke

SCENE I I awoke with a start; I had been buried in a dream, but a sound reached in and pulled me out abruptly. Was it a thump? Raising up on my elbows, I glanced at the clock. 2:34 AM. Very dark outside, a cloudy night with no moon. The blue glow of the digital clock gave the room an eerie tint. It is not unusual to hear noises in the night when you live in the country. Wind knocking over trash cans, tree branches falling on a roof, a, raccoon upsetting a planter. Occasionally a horse kicking the side […]

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How Severe Grief Affects Marriage, and Ways to Recover

Posted on April 16, 2020 - by Ralph Macey

“What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.” — Helen Keller Facing the death of a dear one is too difficult to believe and the pain is unbearable to any person. The effect of grief will be devastating if one of your beloved friends or family members has passed away. No matter how much time you spend to forget this shock, their death is difficult to deal with. Many experts say that grief is a part of life. But it can be said also that it is […]

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Death From Drug Overdose and Survival Support During Covid-19

Posted on April 13, 2020 - by Gloria Horsley

On today’s Facebook Live, we discussed dealing with the grief associated with losing a loved one to a drug overdose. However, we  also extended that to other areas, including those impacted by drug and alcohol addiction who may have also died from suicide, impaired driving, murder, accident, or organ failure. Each year, tens of thousands die from drug overdoses while thousands more die from related situations. The loved ones left behind must address their grief, which has become even more difficult in the wake of COVID-19. The Epidemic Before the Pandemic Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were dealing with […]

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Learning to Interpret Your COVID-19 Dreams

Posted on April 11, 2020 - by Gloria Horsley

Today, our Open to Hope podcast featured Carla Blowey, a certified Dream Work Facilitator who works with the Marin Institute for Projective Dream Work alongside its founder, Jeremy Taylor. She is the author of “Dreaming Kevin: The Path to Healing.” Carla presents dream programs for individuals, groups and national bereavement organizations on-site and online. COVID-19 Dreams My daughter and co-host, Heidi, shared her own experience with COVID-19 and the accompanying dreams of a dark cloud or entity chasing her in her dreams both before and over the course of having the virus. This may be similar to what others are experiencing […]

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Honoring Death Unrelated to COVID-19

Posted on April 11, 2020 - by Gloria Horsley

Are you feeling alone and unacknowledged in your grief, especially when it involves honoring a death that is unrelated to COVID-19? It’s understandable given the intense focus on COVID-19 and the rising number of deaths from the virus. However, the reality is that loved ones are still dying due to other medical conditions, accidents, and more. We asked Dr. William G. (Bill) Hoy Clinical Professor of Medical Humanities at Baylor University to join us for a recent podcast to discuss the topic of honoring death unrelated to COVID-19. Bill is a major author and leading expert in bereavement and pastoral […]

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