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 I Did Not Know What To Say Newsletter Archive
Our past issues are listed below for you to explore and pass on to your friends and family that may find the information helpful. Understanding Grief Are Grief & Depression the Same Thing? by Mark D. Miller M.D. Dr. Miller explores the differences between Grief and Depression. Helping Dispel 5 Common Myths About Grief
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.,
Alan D. Wolfelt's article describes five of the most common myths about grief. Through understanding and overcoming these myths we can find positive ways to help ourselves and others heal. Anticipating Grief
by Cheryline Lawson
Cheryline's article gives an overview of how anticipating the loss of a loved one that is terminally ill can affect family, friends and the person who is dying.
How to Support and Care for a Grieving Loved One What To Say... When You Don't Know What To Say by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say Finding the words to support a loved one through the grieving process. What Not to Say to a Grieving Loved One
by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say Knowing what not to say can be just as important as finding the right words to comfort a loved one when they are grieving. Tips on How to Support a Grieving Loved One by Lori Pederson I have put together an overview of the highlights of my interview with Chelsea Hanson as part of the Grief Healing Telesummit.
10 Important Things I Would Tell My Younger Self About Grief and Loss by Lori Pederson
At 25 I knew very little about grief and loss. I wish I had a road map to help navigate the many ups and downs that I would encounter after my mom passed away. My article offers 10 important lessons I wish I had known those many years ago. SHOULD I OR SHOULDN'T I? by Ann Leach, President, Life Preservers: a global grief support community Ann's article will give you concrete ways to provide support in the simplest of ways to a
grieving loved one. The Art of the Inspirational Adventure by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say Helpful way to assist your love one find fun & adventure again. On Writing: Your Stories Can Heal Your Heart by Joan Hitchens, Storybooks for Healing Tips on how writing about a loved one can be an effective tool for those grieving to process their feelings and help them restore balance in their life. The Gift of Listening by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say After the loss of a loved one, there is nothing more important you can do for a friend than being a good listener. The Gift of Listening offers 10 Tips on how to improve your listening skills. The Simple Ingredients for a Less Stressful Life by Jill Rheaume, Creator, Our Stressful Lives Jill's article will explore healthy ways to handle the little and big stressors in your life. Tips for Feeding Grieving Friends by Tamar Fox Tips to take into consideration if you're called on to bring food to a family member or friend who's ill, recovering from surgery, or dealing with a recent loss. What Will You Choose? by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say You just received a phone call letting you know that your friend has lost a loved one. You now have a decision to make...What kind of supporter do you want to be? How to Choose a Thoughtful Sympathy Gift by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say Tips on how to choose a sympathy gift that expresses your deep concern. More Than Words Can Say by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say Sharing gratitude to those that have provided support during a loss. Walk Beside Me and Be My Friend by Nan Zastrow
Explores how relationships can change after the event of grief. Some relationships will strengthen, some relationships will end and new relationships will begin. Please Cut the Grieving Some Slack by Maribeth Coye Decker, Sacred Grove Bodywork This article reminds us that we are all human and that we need to let kindness and forgiveness guide us when we encounter strange behaviors from those that are grieving. Reaching out to the bereaved and getting no response by Robbie Miller Kaplan, Author How to Say It, When You Don't Know What to Say Explores the reasons why someone may not respond when they are grieving and how to not take it personally. How to Talk to Someone Who is Grieving by Rachel Walton, MSN, CRNP
Rachel Walton's article offers many valuable suggestions on how to talk to and more importantly listen to someone who is grieving. Effective Communication Skills During Grief and Mourning Following a Family or Relationship Death by Rick Goodfriend Rick Goodfriend's article offers several useful suggestions on how to communicate effectively with a loved one that is grieving. Grief and Loss - Tips For Helping Others
by Judi Cineas, PhD Judi Cineas' article walks through Elisabeth K?bler-Ross' Five Stages of Grief (Denial -> Anger -> Bargaining -> Depression -> Acceptance) and offers useful suggestions on how you can support a loved one as they move through the many stages of grief. Walking With The Bereaved: Tools For Others To Help The Bereaved
by Tanya Lord ?The Grief Toolbox Tanya Lord offers an insightful perspective on how to understand and help someone that is grieving. In Gratitude of Those That Have Done So Much
by Lori Pederson In times of great despair and loss it is difficult to see beyond the deep feelings of sadness and have a grateful heart. But in the mix of all the anger and sadness there are those special people who did say the right thing at the right time, the person that made you smile when you thought you would never smile again and those that understood your pain when the rest of the world went back to their daily lives. A Shared Memory is a Lasting Memory by Lori Pederson This article explores how sharing our stories with friends and family keeps our loved ones alive in our hearts.
10 Supportive Ways to Help a Grieving Loved One
by Lori Pederson
Losing a loved one can be an extremely difficult time in a person's life. I have compiled a list of several compassionate ways my friends and family have supported me through the many losses in my life. I hope these acts of kindness encourage others to surround their friends and family with love and compassion during their time of need. Interview with Robbie Miller Kaplan - How to Say It, When You Don't Know What to Say
How to Support a Grieving Loved One during the Holidays
The First Holidays After a Loss - How You Can Offer Your Support
by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say
Tips on how to support a grieving friend or family member as they experience the holidays for the first time without their loved one. Helping Children Grieve during the Holidays
by Miri Rossitto founder of
Valley of Life
memorial website & author of
A Guide to Children and Grief Useful suggestions on how to assist a grieving child express their feelings of sadness as well as honor the memory of the loved one that passed away. Be the Gift of Comfort, Joy and Love this Holiday Season by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say Having the support of friends and family during the holidays can make all the difference. Sometimes support and love are the best gifts you can give a friend that is grieving. A Few Tips on What Not to Say to Your Bereaved Loved Ones this Holiday Season
by Lori Pederson
The holidays can be a stressful time for your friends and family that are grieving. For a more enjoyable holiday for everyone, we offer several tips on what not to say. Less Than Perfect by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say Sometimes the perfect gift is not perfect at all. It is your willingness to look awkward and not know what to say, and yet still show up and be there for a friend that is grieving that matters most. 12 Simple Ways to Support a Grieving Friend this Holiday Season by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say Holidays can be a difficult time for those that are grieving. We have compiled a list of 12 simple and meaningful ways to support your grieving friends this holiday season. Thanksgiving Memories: Love, Loss and Good Eats by Gloria Arenson, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist A wonderful reminder of the simple ways to remember a loved one during the holidays. Grief and the Holidays - Helpful Hints, Do's and Don'ts
by Cynthia Clark Cynthia Clark's article offers a variety of tips on how to manage grief and the holidays. Grief Healing - Remembering Our Loved Ones on Valentine's Day by Marty Tousley, Bereavement Counselor
Marty Tousley offers many suggestions on how to remember a loved one this Valentine's Day. Through creating grief rituals we find ways to stay connected to our loved ones.
How to Support a Grieving Window/Widower Five Things You Can Do For a Grieving Widow by Marcy Kelly, Author of From Sorrow to Dancing Marcy has provided us with her insights and suggestions on how to assist a grieving widow. HAVE A "SINGLE-Y SENSATIONAL" VALENTINE'S DAY
by Carole Brody Fleet, Author of Widows Wear Stilettos
Carol offers several fun filled suggestions on how to get through - and even enjoy Valentine's Day when you are a widow or on your own.
Operation: Heaven by Taryn Davis, Founder, The American Widow Project Writings & Tips for those who know someone who has lost their hero in the military. How To Date/Marry A Widow or Widower by Ellen Gerst Grief and Relationship Coach, Ellen Gerst, offers several practical suggestions on how to be sensitive to your partner's loss and at the same time grow your relationship. THE WRONG WIDOW
by Ren?e Henning
Ren?e Henning's article explores how a widow can be taken advantage of and exploited legally and financially after the death of her spouse.
Interview with Pat Nowak - ABC's of Widowhood Interview with Ellen Gerst - Love After Loss: Writing The Rest of Your Story Interview with Carole Brody Fleet - Widows Wear Stilettos Interview Marcy Kelly - From Sorrow to Dancing Interview with Lori A. Moore - Missing Andy Interview with Michael Corrigan - A Year and a Day Interview with Jennifer Hawkins - The Gift Giver Interview with Maryann Hartzell-Curran - From We to Me
How to Support a Grieving Parent
What Grieving Moms Want for Mother's Day: The Comfort Company Offers 10 Simple Ways to help Moms Cope When Mother's Day Hurts Survey conducted by the Comfort Company - What Grieving Moms Want for Mother's Day is a compilation of over 200 survey responses on how you can help the grieving moms in your life cope with Mother's Day. Broken Angel by Janet Kohn, Co-Founder The Broken Angels Grief Support Group
Janet offers a simple, yet profound way to explain to friends how grief changes parents who have lost a child to substance abuse.
Am I a Mother - Tips for Handling Mother's Day After Miscarriage by Lisa Church of HopeXchange
Lisa Church's article explores how to ease the pain of the loss of a pregnancy and how to find hope and healing. For friends and family, Lisa's article is a great resource on how to offer your support on Mother's Day.
Positive Ways to Support a Grieving Dad by Kelly Farley, Founder of the Grieving Dad's Project
Many men feel alone in their grief after the loss of a child. Kelly Farley, Founder of the Grieving Dad's Project, offers many ways to support grieving dads by sharing his personal story.
Child Bearing Loss, Miscarriage, Stillbirth - Top 10 Tips for Parents
Amy Luster, M.A. is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Amy Luster's article offers many strategies for parents coping with loss. For friends and family, Amy's article, is also a great resource to help you understand how to be supportive during an incredibly difficult and often misunderstood loss.
Interview with Kelly Farley - Grieving Dads: To The Brink and Back Interview with Author Annie Mitchell - Holding Back The Tears Interview with Veronica Janus - Abundantly More Interview with Laura Smith - In All Things Giving Thanks When Hope Seems Lost
How to Support a Grieving Child (no matter what age) who has Lost a Parent
Mother's Day Remembrance
by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say
Tips on how to support a loved one who is grieving the loss of their mom on Mother's Day. On Father's Day, When He's Gone, He's Not Forgotten by Janell Vasquez of Memories are Forever Janell's article offers many suggestions on how to create a lasting tribute by designing a personalized memory book to honor your father's memory. What to Do on Father's Day When Dad is Deceased by Laurie Mueller, RTC, ID, AED, Med Laurie Mueller offers practical tips to honor the important men in your life that have passed away.
Five Ways to Help a Child Cope With the Loss of a Parent Julia Sorensen is the author of "Overcoming Loss Stories and Activities to Help Children Transform Grief and Loss"
Julia Sorensen's article offers several creative ways to assist a child work through their feelings of loss.
Interview with Uma Girish - Losing Amma, Finding Home: A Memoir About Love, Loss and Life's Detours Interview with Chelsea Hanson - Sympathy Matters Collection Interview with Author Julie Saeger Nierenberg - Daddy, this is it. Being-with My Dying Dad How to Support a Grieving Child/Teenager Helping Teenagers Cope With Grief
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D
Dr. Wolfelt's article helps us understand how teenagers grieve differently and provides a framework on how we can offer them our support during the loss of a loved one.
Five Ways to Help a Child Cope With the Loss of a Parent
By Julia Sorensen
Children
often don't know how to express their feelings of grief, Five Ways to Help a Child Cope with the Loss of a Parent offers several creative ways to assist a child work through their feelings of loss.
Interview with Lynn S. Combes - A Garden Full of Butterflies Suicide Survivor Support Helping a Suicide Survivor Heal by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. article provides many useful strategies on how to support your friends and family dealing with this type of loss.
The Myths Surrounding Suicide by Catherine Greenleaf Catherine Greenleaf offers insightful information on how to assist a loved one that is a suicide survivor.
Grief After Suicide Loss
By Jill Lehman
Jill Lehman's article offers an understanding of the complexities of grief after a suicide loss and how friends and family can offer their support.
Interview with Catherine Greenleaf - Healing The Hurt Spirit: Daily Affirmations for People Who Have Lost a Loved One to Suicide Grief and the Workplace How to Support a Grieving Co-Worker by Lori Pederson, Founder of I Did Not Know What to Say Grief in the workplace can sometimes be hard to manage. How to Support a Grieving Co-Worker explores several ways that you can constructively support a co-worker that is grieving a loss of a loved one. Support & Resources for Traumatic Loss and Natural Disasters Natural Disaster Recovery Guide by Dwight Bain Dwight Bain's article is an insightful look at the emotional side of disaster recovery. Resources for Traumatic Loss Resources and helpful tips on ways to support those that are grieving in the wake of a tragedy. If you have a resource to share, please email us at [email protected]. Loss of a Pet
Loss of a Pet - How to Bring Comfort to a Grieving Friend
by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say
Lori's article offers several suggestions on how to support a friend that is grieving the loss of their beloved pet. |
To give you a little summer reading, I have put together a resource list of our past newsletters to explore and/or pass on to a loved one that might benefit from the many tips and tools we have provided on how to assist a loved one through the journey of restoring balance in their life after a loss. 
