August 30 is National Grief Awareness Day
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Photo by Tom Pumford on Unsplash
National Grief Awareness Day
August 30 is dedicated to raising awareness of the many ways in which people cope with loss. It offers resources to those who are grieving and reminds others of the importance of supporting those people who are grieving.
Grief is one of the oldest and most difficult aspects of the human experience. If you haven’t experienced it yet, it’s likely to happen at some point.
If you have experienced it, you know of its uniqueness and difficulty. Grief usually arises from the loss of a loved one or someone that was close to us, like a friend or a pet.
For some, grief is managed smoothly and quickly. For others though, grief can be a long and winding road.
National Grief Awareness Day was founded in 2014 by Angie Cartwright. She suffered great losses throughout her life and decided to dedicate herself to bringing support to people who have suffered from grief and to educate families about the realities of grief and how it affects people’s lives.
Losses In Angie Cartwright’s Life
When she was five years old, she lost her baby sister. In 1996, her husband was involved in a car accident and passed away. Finally, in 2010, she lost her mother to a drug overdose.
The Problem Associated With Loss
In each of these periods, she found that many people have a certain stigma towards grief. When people lose someone, they are often told they need to move on and get over their sadness.
She found that too many people view grief as something that needs to be fixed. That makes grievers feel shamed or rushed because the grieving experience is seen as “taboo.”
As a result, many grieve in silence, which can create many negative experiences. As Angie says in her own words “silent grief, can be a deadly grief.”
The Purpose of National Grief Awareness Day
National Grief Awareness Day is her attempt to address grief and to end the stigma. It has become a movement of people dedicated to showing compassion for others and striving to educate those who hold a negative attitude towards grief.
Ways to Celebrate Grief Awareness Day
Be supportive to anyone you know who grieving. Whether you are there to tell a joke and use humor to encourage laughter, cook a warm meal, or simply be there to offer a comforting presence; there are plenty of ways to help those you love.
If it’s you who are grieving, give yourself a break, knowing that overcoming grief is not as simple as turning off a light switch, and off it goes
Everyone grieves in their own way and at their own pace. For some, a grief counselor may be beneficial. Often times, grief can be the best medicine and life-changing for those grieving the death of a loved one. You can offer to find such a professional for a grieving friend, family member or acquaintance. Also, my website jillgriefcounselor.com has many informative blog posts as well, to offer to people who are in need. Click Blog on the top of the home page.
Check Out This List of 16 Suggested Reads for Dealing With Grief from The Strategist.
7 Things You Need to Know About Grief
1. Grief doesn’t run on its own predictable timetable. Some people seem to recover from grief relatively quickly, while others take longer to heal. Each individual needs the support and space to learn how to navigate their own grief. No two people process loss in the same way and everyone’s relationship with the deceased is individual.
2. People who are grieving often suffer from guilt as well. They may feel that they’re in some way responsible for their loved one’s death. This can complicate the grieving process for them and make it harder to recover.
3. Grief can cause grievers to lose their sense of direction and purpose in life. These are all normal aspects of the grieving process.
4. Grief brings raw, intense emotions that to some seem impossible to control. Others may wonder if they are even grieving at all, since they don’t have external symptoms or the appearance of grieving.
5. Loneliness is a common aspect of grief, as is withdrawing from social situations and isolating from other people.
6. There is a lot of anger in grief. Some people feel anger targeted at whomever they hold responsible. That can be themselves, the deceased, a friend, a family member, or another target.
7. There are many physical manifestations of grief,including loss of appetite, overeating, sleeping too much or not enough, not moving around or over-exercising, crying uncontrollably, grief “brain fog”, lack of focus, and so many more.
How to Honor an Important Person
HealGrief.org suggests that one way to honor and remember an important person who is deceased is to light a candle for them on Grief Awareness Day. A digital candle can safely take the place of a physical candle which can symbolize your thoughts about the loved one. To learn how to do a virtual candle lighting, visit healgrief.org and give it a try!
Grief Awareness is Not Limited to August 30
Any day is a good day for grief awareness, not just August 30. If you need some support in your group or a little “tune-up” in handling your grief, you may benefit from grief counseling.
