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May 25, 2017 · 1. It sucks. I'm not going to try to make it sound better than that. I can't. It just sucks. Not only do you lose the person you love and your partner in life, but your children also lose their...
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Sep 28, 2022 · Whether you’re in this widow club too, have lost someone close to you, or maybe you’re just lost in general, here are a few of the lessons I've learned: You can survive your darkest days
- 5 min
- Julie Thomason
- Time is never enough: Regardless of the duration of your relationship, losing your partner feels like an eternal loss. Whether you spent one day or several decades together, the feeling of being robbed of precious moments is universal among widows.
- I knew, but I still wasn’t ready: Even if you anticipate your spouse’s passing due to illness or other circumstances, the emotional preparation is never enough.
- Memories of the funeral: In the midst of grief, certain details of the funeral and burial become hazy, if not entirely forgotten. The intensity of emotions can create a numbing effect, protecting our minds from fully absorbing the traumatic events surrounding the loss.
- The emotions of fresh grief: The immediate aftermath of losing a spouse is filled with a huge mix of emotions. Surprisingly, my initial reaction wasn’t overwhelming sadness; it was relief.
Oct 17, 2024 · Widow's Walk. Grief. Living Between What Is Gone and What Is Yet to Be. Personal Perspective: The loss of a spouse ended the life I had. Where do I go from here? Posted October 17, 2024 |...
- Alone with A Partner vs. Alone Without
- Socializing as Distraction
- Cherishing Friends, Needing Solitude
In the past, stepping away from the hubbub of social life usually meant retreating to my home where I would be alone with Tom, which was like value-added solitude. Recharging with Tom, who was also a quiet type, was easy. And because I wasn’t truly alone, I didn’t get lonely. (I recently stumbled on a 2021 New York Times article about the value of ...
I’ve heard other people who are grieving say that they have no desire to socialize or do much of anything; they simply want to hole up and nurse their pain. Despite my introversion, I’ve had the opposite reaction. Since Tom died, I’ve revved my social life into overdrive. I’m busy all the time. Seeing people, doing things, going places… I say no to...
There is an upside to this. In my grief, I have come to understand the importance of other people in my life and feel more deeply connected to my friends. It’s easy to get complacent in marriage—especially for an introvert. I’ve always had friends, but as long as Tom and I had each other, everyone outside our bubble was… incidental. Now, my bubble ...
Dec 17, 2022 · “How to Talk to a Widow” has some thoughtful and helpful suggestions. I’d like to add some others based on my experience as a psychotherapist, a widow and a facilitator for groups of widows.
People also ask
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Jun 21, 2021 · Today, as armed conflicts, displacement and migration, and the COVID-19 pandemic leave tens of thousands of women newly widowed and many others whose partners are missing or disappeared, the unique experiences and needs of widows must be brought to the forefront, with their voices leading the way.
