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Grief and Youth

What does grief mean to youth? Some youth describe it as the “seasons”. Seasons are the natural part of nature. Well, people are something like nature. They also have seasons, such as: birth, baby, toddler, preteen, teenager, adult, and geriatric. Change is a natural part of the cycle of life. […]

Signs of Stress Checklist for Youth

Instructions: Look at the following symptoms of stress. Score each between 1-5. (1=rarely; 2=monthly; 3=weekly; 4=several times a week; 5=almost daily) _______1. Headaches _______2. Stomach problems – pain, diarrhea, constipation, nausea _______3. Fast heart beat _______4. Pain in body –legs, neck, lower back, shoulders, jaw ______ 5. Muscle jerks or […]

Music is an Outlet for Grieving Youth

After listening to the song, Fire and Rain, post commits about: What is the song about? What were some of the feelings written about in the song? How could you tell the person was grieving? Do you think the person in the song gained anything? Will the person in the […]

Stages of Grief

Denial and Isolation: Periods of denial are used positively as a healthy way to cope with the shock of finding out the truth. Anger: Ask “why me?”, He/she feels resentful and envious, frustration and helpless. They are angry with family, doctors, nurses, friends and others and need to feel cared […]

Hour of Gold…

Anne Morrow Lindbergh is an American heroine whose personal tragedy demonstrates the ability of the human spirit to grow through pain. Her eighteen-month-old baby was kidnapped from his crib and offered back to the Lindberghs for a large sum of money. Eventually, after paying the ransom, after weeks of waiting […]

Four Tasks of Grief for Berreaved Youth (S. Fox)*

Recently two psychologists, William Worden, Ph.D. and Sandra Fox, Ph.D. have developed the tasks that grieving adults and children need to accomplish for their grief to be good grief. (Good grief is that which enhances or allows the person to rurn to their previous level of functioning.) Understanding: Knowing the […]

Four Tasks of Mourning (W. Worden)*

To accept the reality of the loss. To come face to face with the reality of the loss as irretrievable. To experience the pain of grief. Including the literal physical pain that many experience and the emotional and behavioral pain associated with loss. To adjust to an environment in which […]

Dancing With Feelings

Aary Aardvark walked as quietly around the bird as he could hoping to startle or wake it. The blue bird didn’t make a sound. In fact, nothing happened. The bird neither moved nor flew away. Aarvy sat down, spellbound by its beauty. As Aary sat watching the still blue bird […]

G.E.I. Coping Inventory

Each person copes with stress and problems differently. When you are under stress or have problems, how likely are you to do each of the following? Write down the most appropriate number for each statement: 1=Never 2=Seldom 3=Sometimes 4=Usually 5=Always 1. Drink alcoholic beverages. 2. Talk it […]

Normal Ways of Coping With Grief

The process of integrating a loss is unique to each person, but has some common themes or reactions. Working through grief is usually done using a variety of coping strategies aimed at making the process safe enough so that the emotions and changes can be endured. One can see that […]

Answers to G.E.I. Coping Inventory

Make three columns, one for fight, one for flight, and one for facing it head on. Find below each number and its coping category. Put the score for each number in the appropriate column. Add up the total scores for each of the three categories. The Category that has the […]

Good Grief Cookbook

Write a recipe for helping yourself or someone else during periods of grief. An example could be: Calm Cookies 1 cup caring friends 1/2 cup sharing feelings 1/2 cup meaningful activity 2 T. meditation 1/4 t. good nutition Mix well. Spread in 9"x9" prayerful pan and bake for 3 or […]