Express your sorrow, share your memories and get help moving forward with your life.
Grief is powerful—loneliness, sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, confusion, anger, fear.
You may feel like your world has ended, but you are NOT alone. If you’ve experienced a loss and are struggling with the overwhelming feelings of grief, Haven can help.
Come together for mutual support from others who are grieving. Led by our professional clinicians, participants will learn about and face the reality of their own unique grief, as well as share their pain in a supportive setting. Together we will explore and develop healthy coping strategies, restore a sense of hope and help you move forward.
Dates: On-going weekly goup
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Place: First United Methodist Church, 603 State St, Schenectady, NY. Meeting in the church library.
Fee: $10 per session
Contact: Heather Lewis, LMSW
RSVP: Please call 518-482-8856 for a brief intake with our staff.
Email: Click to email the group leader
Getting Through the Holidays After a Loss
Not everyone considers this “the most wonderful time of the year.” For those who have lost a loved one, the holiday season can bring feelings of loneness, sadness, and anxiety.
How will you get through the holidays? What if you get overwhelmed with grief? How can you preserve family traditions when you don’t feel like celebrating? Why can’t we just fast-forward to January? If this sounds like you, you are not alone.
Come together with others to share your loss and to exchange ideas for getting through the holidays without over extending yourself. You will learn strategies for dealing with normal feelings of dread as well as creative ways to take care of yourself and restore a sense of hope.
There is no cost for this program.
DATE: Saturday, November 12, 2016
TIME: 2:00-4:00 p.m.
PLACE: Schenectady County Public Library Main Branch
McChessney Room, 99 Clinton Ave, Schenectady, NY
RSVP: Heather Lewis Springer, LMSW at 518-370-1666 or hlewis@jfsneny.org
When is grief actually depression? JFS clinicians provide answers.
Question
I’m worried about my mother. My Dad died three months ago and since then her emotions have been a rollercoaster. Some days she cries and can barely get out of bed and other days she tells stories about my dad that have my brother and me in stitches. It’s the down days that have me most concerned. I often wonder if she is really depressed. How can I tell the difference between normal grief and something more serious like depression?
Answer
Losing someone you love is very painful. And the more significant the loss, the more intense the grief will be. People experience all kinds of difficult emotions and it may seem like the pain and sadness will never go away. It’s normal to feel this way, but there are ways to tell whether or not a person is coping with the loss or if they are getting stuck, and potentially depressed.
Grieving is a highly personal and individualized experience and there is no “normal” timetable for healing. Since your father died three months ago, the fact that your mother is still grieving is quite typical.
What is normal about losing a loved one is that the person will feel a variety of emotions, and they will have a mix of good days and bad days. Grief can make a person feel sad, guilty, anxious and fearful. It can also include physical symptoms like nausea, insomnia and weight gain or loss.
In addition, when people are grieving, they can have moments of pleasure or happiness. You mentioned that your mother will tell funny stories about your dad. Reminiscing about a loved one after they have passed helps your mother maintain a connection to your father, and solidifies in her mind the meaning of their relationship. Both are a natural part of the healing process.
Grief can be a rollercoaster and this is what distinguishes it from depression. If your mother is constantly feeling empty and full of despair, overcome with pervasive guilt, or can’t function at home or work, it is an indication of something more serious and it may be time to talk to a mental health professional. However, if her mood vacillates between sadness and an ability to perform normal daily activities, she is likely experiencing the typical ups and downs of grief. Support her, and enjoy her stories about your dad. They will likely help you with your grief as well.