IS Spouse Grief Counseling Needed? I Think so.

eggharbor42

Has anyone heard about grief support resources after the passing of a spouse. I believe many years of caregiving create very unique needs for support after your spouse's passing. Perhaps individual counseling is the best approach. However, I learned much and greatly benefited from my years of caregiver support groups. I can't help but feel this expertise would translate into meaningful support and healing during the grief process. In my nine years as a caregiver, I'm sure I was most often in denial of the inevitable outcome. When it arrived I was unprepared. This new struggle is proving difficult. 

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  - JLW

MaryG123

I’m sorry about your struggles JLW.  I know others have also written about how hard it is to make the transition when the loved one with dementia passes.  I hope you can find a local support group that fits your needs.  Hugs to you!  (())

Iris L.

There is a message board, "caregivers who have lost someone", towards the bottom of the main directory page.

Iris L

Ed1937

I'm sorry for the loss of your wife. I lost my wife 4 months ago, and yes, it's a different kind of hard. Several others here have recently lost their LOs too. I have not looked into a support group for myself, but I think they can be very helpful if needed.

terei

The hospice we used for my mom offered grief counseling after her death.

dayn2nite2

Hospice provides grief counseling for family after the patient dies and also funeral homes often have a rotating cycle of group support meetings, they try to keep people who have lost their loved ones around the same time so everyone is more or less within the same time frame, so there isn't a group where someone lost their LO 6 months ago is in the same group as someone who lost their LO 2 weeks ago.

JJ401

One of the best things I did after my first husband died (cancer) was to go to grief counseling. A year later my dad died (just didn’t wake up one morning) and I encouraged my mom to go. She said she’d only go if I went with her. So I did. I got a lot out of it both times. I highly recommend it.

storycrafter

Grief counseling, grief workshops and support groups, classes...all can be very helpful. And it's not just a one-time thing and it's done. Ongoing recovery work is needed over time.