HANDLINGHANDLINGHANDLINGHANDLINGTHE LOSSESTHE LOSSESTHE LOSSESTHE LOSSES

OF LIFEOF LIFEOF LIFEOF LIFEDr. William Young, MFT,LPC,CPT

Author, The Mourning AfterSenior Pastor, The Healing Center

Granger Westberg, Author of Good G i f G i f i GOOD bGrief says Grief is GOOD because…..

W     t  f    i f  i   t    li htl  We come out of our grief experience at a slightly higher level of maturity than beforeWe come out of our grief as deeper persons, We come out of our grief as deeper persons, because we have been down in the depths of despair and know what it is likeW     t  f it  t  f    h  h d t  l  We come out of it stronger, for we have had to learn how to use our spiritual muscles to climb the rugged mountain trailsWe come out of it better able to help others.  We have walked through the valley of the shadow of grief.  We can understandWe can understand.

“B t I ld t h t b“But, I would not have you to be ignorant brethren concerning them g gwhich are asleep, that ye sorrow

t th hi h hnot, even as others which have no hope.”p

1 Thessalonians 5:13

DEFINING GRIEF

A set of emotions A set of emotions that result from that result from

any significant lossany significant loss

ATTACHMENT THEORYTHEORY & LOSS

GRIEVING ISGRIEVING IS…NORMALNORMALNATURALNATURAL

NECESSARYNECESSARY

4 TYPES4 TYPES OFOF

LOSSESLOSSES

11A loved one through g

death, divorce, or separationp

22Some aspect of the “self”

th h h lth t l ithrough health, mental image, or “self-definition”or self definition

(occupation, social role, status)

33External Objects: such as money, home, homeland or t d i (treasured possession (even

a dog or cat)a dog or cat)

44Development—teeth, vision, hearing, hair,

position in family or the liklike

MISCARRIAGEMISCARRIAGE &&

ABORTIONABORTION

DIVORCE &&

SEPARATIONSEPARATION

AGINGAGING &&

RETIREMENT

HEALTHHEALTH&&

BODY IMAGEBODY IMAGE

EFFECTSOFOF

WARWAR

SPECIAL LOSSES

HOMICIDEHOMICIDE&&

SUICIDESU C

ANTICIPATORY GRIEFGRIEF

STAGESSTAGES IN THE GRIEFGRIEF

PROCESS

STAGE 1

ACCEPT THEACCEPT THE REALITYREALITY

OF THE LOSS

STAGE 2STAGE 2

EXPERIENCE THE PAINTHE PAIN

STAGE 3STAGE 3

ADJUST TO NEWADJUST TO NEW OENVIRONMENT

STAGE 4STAGE 4

REINVESTREINVEST ENERGY ANEWENERGY ANEW

Resource Centers For HelpThe Crisis Center

1-800-SUICIDE/1-800-784-2433Or (901) 274-7477 (24 Hours Day)

Teenage Grief, Inc.1-805-253-1932

Website: www.smartlink.net/~tag

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors1-800-959-TAPS

Grieving Widow and Widowers1-888-999-5838

Parents of Murdered Children1-888-818-POMC

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)Victim Hotline: 1800-GET-MADD

Website: www.madd.org

E ti l Fit C tEmotional Fitness Centers of Tennesseeof Tennessee

A FAITH BASED APPROACH-A FAITH BASED APPROACH-Churches combating emotional distress in our g

Communities…

Providing HELP and HOPE:Providing HELP and HOPE:

(901) 370-HOPE (4673)(901) 370-HOPE (4673)