Open to Hope Articles
Do you want to read stories of others who have been where you are? Are you looking for bereavement help, and advice? Look no further. We offer over 3,000 articles written by our Open to Hope authors.
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Memories of a Son’s Birthday Cards to Mom
July 5, 2012
It is almost my birthday and with all the birthday cards, why am I so sad? My husband always makes me feel as if my birthday is a big celebration and I have two amazing daughters who try to make this day very special for me. Cindy always makes her own cards and Carrie always finds the perfect card, meant just for me. But something is missing, a card from my son, Keith. Our son Keith died in 1999. I remember one card from Keith. Keith was in his senior year at UCLA and was recovering from a fall, from […]
Does Staying Busy Get You Through Grief or Lead to Avoidance?
June 29, 2012
Several days after my daughter died from the injuries she received in a car crash, I received call from a friend. She told me her son had died in a car crash when he was 17 years old, something I didn’t know. Her call and advice to “stay busy” touched my heart. Since I had experienced loss before, I understood the advice, but it makes grief counselors cringe. Becoming too busy can turn into grief avoidance. When my friend called I had no inkling that two more family members would die. I didn’t know I would find a way to […]
Grief is Feeling Alone in Your Own Skin
June 24, 2012
Grief is one of the loneliest places in the world. When my son died, I felt every connection I had ever had was gone. I felt invisible even to myself. When I looked in the mirror, I was surprised to see my reflection staring back at me. I was surprised there was enough life in me to generate a reflection. Somehow I thought my face would be gone, just like my identity. In one life altering moment, every thing I had ever known or thought I knew was either unrecognizable or gone. My son had died and left no forwarding […]
The Importance of Consistency in Grief
June 24, 2012
During the past 27 years, I have worked with chemically dependent clients who functioned exclusively in chaos because that is what they knew. I can also proudly say that I have witnessed the success stories of many chemically dependent clients who embraced recovery, because they made a conscious choice to detach themselves from a lifestyle of chaos. Challenges-A Part of Life Individuals who come from less dysfunctional circumstances are not immune to experiencing chaos or uncertainty in their lives. After all, life is full of challenges that test the resolve of the human spirit. Life isn’t meant to be […]
One Step to Healing: Write a Letter to Your Loved One
June 20, 2012
When the life of a loved one is cut short, we’re left with a void. We still had things to say and things to do. We still have a voice, but the hearer is gone. Putting our feelings into words can be therapeutic. The act of writing them invites our mind to sort and process our emotions. It gives us release. So, no matter where you are in the journey of grief, I encourage you to write a letter to your loved one. It can be short or long. A one-time note or a series. No rules. Just write. Here’s […]
Suicide: Stopping the Silence
June 18, 2012
Suicide doesn’t just happen to the “crazy” teen down the block, the junkie on drugs or the intoxicated college dude challenging a “dare.” It doesn’t just happen to those who are dealing with depression and the side effects of antidepressants. It doesn’t just happen to teens and young adults challenged by responsibilities, financial woes, parenting nightmares or stress in school or on-the-job. It isn’t just carried out by a soldier overwhelmed by active duty and the atrocities of war. It doesn’t just seek out the deceitful, the poor, the irresponsible, the desolate and the hopeless. Suicide is random. It happens […]
Ron Villano; Embracing The Power of Change
June 14, 2012
Ron Villano M.S. is a leading expert in working through change. As a father who lost his 17-year old son, Michael, in an auto accident, he always speaks from the heart. He is a licensed psychotherapist, certified clinical hypnotherapist and life/bereavement coach, author of The Zing and host of two radio shows. He encourages all he encounters to Embrace the Power of Change. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2012/07/Ron-Villano_022.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Push and Pull of Grief Recovery
June 12, 2012
For me, 2007 was a year of grief. In the span of nine months, I lost my daughter, father-in-law, brother, and former son-in-law. As I discovered, grieving for multiple losses is more challenging than grieving for one. It also takes longer. Sometimes I would go backwards on the recovery path. Other times I would take a few baby steps forward. My emotions were like a rubber band pulled in opposite directions. The past tugged one way and grief work tugged me another. I felt confused, defeated, and robbed of a future. What were some of my forward and backward steps? […]
