Exploring Your Grief and Loss History

​Time has a way of shifting our perspective – that’s how we learn and grow. A loss history can allow us space to reflect on past and present grief experiences, giving us insight into how we cope with tragedy. What is normal for each of us requires some reflection. It’s not easy to look back sometimes and we don’t want to get stuck in the past – however, understanding what is normal for you can be helpful as you move with the pain of loss.

Please join us online April 14^th as we explore Grief & Loss History: what it is, and how we can use this to guide us further along our journey. All that is required is you. Bring your heart or your “to do” list, whichever you prefer. Coming together can be a relief and bring comfort, especially getting to talk with people who understand what you’re going through.

In this session, as part of our monthly FamiliesConnect series, we will discuss our connection to past losses. We will look to see if there are differences and similarities we can define, or if what we were taught from a young age isn’t anything like the reality what we are experiencing now. For many of us, adjusting to life after a significant loss is extremely difficult. Looking at our previous experiences may shed some light on where to go from here. While you can’t compare experiences from your past, it can help you to restore some balance. You can start by drawing on some of the things you learned to (re-)focus your energy. Our current emotions are part of who we are. They’re not negotiable – they come from what has shaped us, and how we have learned about ourselves. Being curious about our past responses to grief and loss can bring some understanding and balance into view by allowing us to gain strength as we carve out a new pathway forward.

Every person responds to grief in some way. Do you find it helpful to keep busy or finding distractions by getting things done? Do you express your grief more openly; like a mirror image of the emotions you are feeling inside?

The grieving process is not a linear experience. It demands our attention and moves with us – it changes.  Although there are many thoughts on grief and loss, the one thing you can be assured of is that it takes time to find “a new normal” when tragedy has happened. There is no wrong or right way to cope with grief. Your grief is unique. Yours may be coping with the death of a loved one, dealing with the impact of a serious injury, or living with an occupational disease. No tragedy is worse than yours.

Reflecting on how previous losses can impact our current emotions may be a useful exercise to guide us through even the toughest of times. Bring something to write with as we will take a few moments to map out a brief history with loss which you can reflect on later in your own time. Always remember kindness and compassion for yourself is highly recommended in these workshops.

Sign up for the April 14^th FamiliesConnect Grief and Loss History workshop here.