Navigating the Change that Comes From Loss

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The Caring Connection offers these main ideas that will help you navigate loss, and have more compassion for those who are hurting:

• Grief is a normal reaction to loss, and an essential part of dealing with loss, especially loss in death. Grief is not pathological, nor is it the same thing as depression.

• It is important to understand that grief is universal-every person will experience it at some time, and also unique-every person will experience grief in his or her own way. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, but some ways of addressing grief are more helpful than others.

• It is helpful to view grief as a “journey”, a process the grieving person experiences over time. There is no “correct” timetable for grief; many people are hurt by the expectation that they should be “done” grieving in a month or a year.

• Many people benefit from a connection with other people who have experienced loss; that is why support groups are helpful and effective.

• All death is potentially traumatic for survivors, but loss of a family member of friend to suicide is particularly traumatic.

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Seeds of Remembrance 2008

The annual Caring Connections Seeds of Remembrance Program will held at the University of Utah College of Nursing on Tuesday, May 13 from 7:00-8:30 This annual event is an opportunity for those who have lost a friend or family member to gather for a presentation about grief, and reflect on and commemorate the memory of loved ones.

We are pleased to announce that this year’s program will feature:

Gloria Horsley, PhD, and Heidi Horsley, PhD

Co-hosts of the syndicated radio show: “Healing the Grieving Heart”,

“Seeds of Remembrance” is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
(This event is generously sponsored by the Clark L. Tanner Foundation)

For more information, contact the Caring Connections office at 585-9522
or find them online at:
http://www.nurs.utah.edu/caringconnections/about.htm