Grief Resources
Understanding Grief, Grief Support Group and Links to Other Resources
Understanding Grief
Grief is normal - it is a healthy response to a loss.
Grief is universal - we all grieve.
Grief is unique - we grieve in a way consistent with our own personality and with what the loss means to us personally.
Grief is a process whereby we work through the feelings and learn to live with the changes in our lives brought on by the loss.
We are forever changed by the losses in our lives; we never “GET OVER” grief, but we do learn to live with our losses and, in time, find renewed purpose and meaning in life.
Grief takes a long time. Experts tell us that after the death of someone beloved it is normal for it to take at least three to five years to rebuild our lives. This does not mean that we will be in the intense emotional pain we experienced in the early months for that long. It does mean, however, that adjusting to all the changes and working through the myriad of feelings won’t happen in an orderly fashion during the first year, it will probably take more time.
Ongoing support from other people is one of the most helpful factors in working through the feelings and learning to live with all the changes of normal grief. We need to talk about it; we need to share our story. Grief support groups give survivors the opportunity to share their own stories and to listen compassionately to the stories of others.
Local Support Group: Facing the Future by Sharing Our Loss
Our local support group for adults grieving the death of a loved one is offered twice a year. In the spring (evenings) and fall (afternoons). We meet for eight meetings over 16 weeks. Some topics for discussion include: honoring stories, myths of grief, tasks of mourning, self-care and support. “Facing The Future By Sharing Our Loss,” is facilitated by Jane Ingebrand RN, BES. This support group is open to all adults in our community. Participants seem to benefit most from this support group if they have been bereaved four to 24 months. The fee for this group is $16.00 for materials. Pre-registration is required as space is limited to twelve group members.
For more information, or to pre-register for this support group, call Jane at Akkerman - Ingebrand Funeral and Cremation Services - 320-679-1933.
Links to other support resources
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
Spouse/Partner Grief & Loss
601 E. St. NW
Washington, DC 20049
202-434-2260
SAVE - Suicide Awareness
Voices of Education
7317 Cahill Rd. Suite 207
Minneapolis, MN
952-946-7998
For Bereaved Parents
Compassionate Friends –grief support after the death of a child – There are approximately 575 Compassionate Friends chapters in the US. For a chapter’s contact number and meeting information, e-mail the National Office: trish@compassionatefriends.org or phone 630-990-0010 or (toll-free) 1-877-969-0010
Minnesota Sudden Infant Death Center
Children’s Hospitals and Clinics
2525 Chicago Ave. S.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A
612-813-6285
1-800-732-3812
MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Driving
2429 University Avenue West
St Paul, MN 55114
Phone: 651-523-0802
Fax: 651-523-0817
E-mail: edcomm@maddmn.org
Camp Amanda Minnesota
Bringing Hope to Minnesota’s grieving children
The Dougy Center
P.O. Box 86852
Portland, Oregon
505-775-5683
Bereavement Publishers
Center for Loss, Ft. Collins, Colorado