Every road is different

We offer a road map to help you navigate your way through this challenging landscape called grief. Having a map can help us:

• Put names to things. This helps us acknowledge and legitimize our experiences,
• Get our bearings,
• Re-orient ourselves to the world,
• Begin to figure out where we wish to see ourselves in the future,
• Take new directions,
• Respond to grief and trauma in ways that can help.

What you resist not only persists, but will grow in size… - Carl Jung, Psychiatrist

The fact that you are here looking at this resource is proof of your courage to begin to face your grief. You are putting in the time and effort needed to take care of yourself.

It may take lots of trial and error. Something that didn’t work early on may work later. What worked for a colleague or friend may not work for you, even if you’re struggling with the same loss. Making some wrong turns, getting “lost” or even reaching a dead end doesn’t mean that things won’t get better. There are always options. In the pages that follow, we suggest approaches to take and options to consider. The most important thing is to pay attention to and acknowledge your grief.

You may find it helpful to review Living with loss and grief before you start.