What is Grief Recovery?
Introduction to The Grief Recovery Method
Grief:
Is the normal and natural reaction to loss of any kind.
Is the conflicting feelings caused by the end of or change in a familiar pattern of behavior.
Recovery:
Means feeling better.
Means claiming your circumstances instead of your circumstances claiming you.
Is finding new meaning for living, without the fear of being hurt again.
Is being able to enjoy fond memories without having them precipitate painful feelings of regret or remorse.
Is acknowledging that it is perfectly alright to feel sad from time to time and to talk about those feelings no matter how those around you react.
Recovering from emotional loss is not easy. Taking the actions that lead to recovery will require youre attention, open-mindedness, willingness, and courage.
Thoughts from Grief Specialists the founders of The Grief Recovery Method®
How does it work and who is it for?
Recovery from loss is achieved by a series of small and correct choices.
Inaccurate and unhelpful myths about dealing with grief turns into incorrect information about how to grieve which, in turn causes most of us to be socialized incorrectly about grief and our grief turns into unresolved grief - a cycle.
A few myths and their translations:
“Time heals all wounds” - Just give it time
“We have to be strong” - Be strong for others
“You have to stay busy” - Keep busy
“Don’t cry…” - Don’t feel bad
“We’ll get you a new dog” - Replace the loss
“There are plenty of fish in the sea” - Replace the loss
However well-meaning someone may be when saying one of these phrases, none of them actually help with grief. Time itself does not heal pain and the phrase can have someone with a broken heart waiting years to feel better, and being strong for others has no real value.
Not to mention the influence that our caretakers had on us. The way we saw people grieve as children is the way we often grieve. If you saw your adult close themselves in their room and only left to smoke a cigarette, there is a good chance this is the way you will know how to grieve, and/or receive the message to “grieve alone.” This misinformation often becomes the foundation of life long habits.
The Grief Recovery Method is designed for people who have or are experiencing grief or loss. All relationships are unique, therefore all recovery is individual.
It’s never too soon to start this process