The death of a loved one is life's most painful event. People's reactions to death remain one of society's least understood and most off-limits topics for discussion. Oftentimes, grievers are left totally alone in dealing with their pain, loneliness, and isolation.

Grief is a natural emotion that follows death. It hurts. Sadness, denial, guilt, physical discomfort, and sleeplessness are some of the symptoms of grief. It is like an open wound which must become healed. At times, it seems as if this healing will never happen. While some of life's spontaneity begins to return, it never seems to get back to the way it was. It is still incomplete. We know, however, that these feelings of being incomplete can disappear.

Healing is a process of allowing ourselves to feel, experience, and accept the pain. In other words, we give ourselves permission to heal. Allowing ourselves to accept these feelings is the beginning of that process.

The healing process can take much less time than we have been led to believe. There are two missing parts. One is a safe, loving, professionally guided atmosphere in which to express our feelings; the other is knowing how and what to communicate.

The loss of a loved one, you could say, wounds us deeply. Whether you are helping yourself heal or a friend or child, this section will be helpful for you.

Helping Yourself Heal

At its heart, grieving well begins with allowing yourself to mourn. But there are other important realizations, behaviors and expectations you should recognize and understand. We invite you to learn more about the many things you can do to help yourself heal after loss.

Accepting a Loss

The experience of loss is an inevitable part of our lives, and each provokes grief. Accepting a loss, a goal in healthy grieving, essentially involves the awareness of this inescapable truth. Read this to learn more about loss and the importance of acceptance.

When a Parent Dies

The emotional response to the passing of a parent can be surprisingly complex. To help in grieving what is, for many people, a major loss; we offer insights gleaned from our personal and professional experience as well as specific bereavement guidelines you may follow.

Children's Corner

How much should you tell a child about the passing of a family member? How should you explain death, and how involved should children be in the planning of a loved one's funeral? Get insights and answers from our experts in our Children's Corner.