Hi Melissa,

I started this group in case any from the Grief Care group wanted to continue discussion through the week. It hasn't been used in that way yet, but there have been some good visits to the site (including yours!) and my hope is that it could be helpful to people that are suffering grief.

I'm pretty comfortable in both of these formats--groups and Internet. Groups can be challenging because sometimes there's a lot to deal with. Maybe two new people show up that have recent losses or totally unexpected like a child dying in an accident, or a parent getting a medical condition that didn't have a family history and dying fairly quickly.

Internet sites like this can be difficult because a grieving person can very easily take something wrong, not knowing your heart in the matter, and think it's personal, thus adding to the grief. I've always been a humorous person, and that has helped me deal with my own pains and help other through their pain, but when someone doesn't know you, which happens often times on sites like this, humor nearly has to be avoided until there's a deeper relationship built.

Starting a group isn't hard--you just have to want to--which you do. Finding a place to meet can be tricky, and the meeting place will determine who and how many come, but logistics can always be worked out if someone has the desire to do it. I meet at a church, which is great for church people, but I'm sure it keeps some away that are uncomfortable with that type of setting.

As far as starting a group, maybe you can look to join a group that already meets. With your Master's coursework, you probably have to do an internship so go to a local hospital that offers a grief group and ask if you can sit in and eventually help lead.

Does leading a group cause bad memories to be constantly relived? I guess each person is different in this regards, but it doesn't have to. Every situation is so different and it's easy to become occupied with someone else's grief and see our on concerns, worries, fears slip to the background. If a women came to your group having lost her husband of 45 years and not feeling like she can go on without him (or her in the case of a man coming to the group), it's pretty far removed from your own situation and compassion kicks in and you find yourself caring for that person rather than reliving your own lose in an acute sense.

I enjoy talking about this important area of life so please don't feel like you have to apologize for asking questions. I can't say my "answers" are always right because there are a lot of variables in grief care, but I like to be involved and encourage others (and be encouraged) whenever possible.

Take care,

John

Melissa Bridges <mbridges79@...> wrote: