By M. Kotch

In an age of virtual connections—where strangers can share stories and sympathy with the click of a mouse—it’s important to remember the importance of support groups. Anyone who has lost a loved one can identify with the desire to shut out the world and be left alone; we don’t have to act or put on a happy face when no one is watching.

However, doctors, psychologists and other experts agree that grief support groups can be a tremendous source of help. In many cases, support groups provide an opportunity to voice feelings that we feel uncomfortable sharing anywhere else. Sharing within a controlled group environment gives permission to those who have trouble processing their grief to let go and express their sadness. It also provides extra support for those who have already taken the brave step of seeking help from friends and family or a professional therapist.

The list below provides information on how to find various chapters and local support groups in your area.

•    The grief over losing a life partner is devastating—and all the more shocking when it happens to younger couples. YoungWidow.org provides support for young (and older) widows and widowers across the country.

•    Nothing can prepare parents for the grief that follows losing a child. Thankfully support groups, such as Bereaved Parents of the USA, are geared toward parents and family members to provide much needed solace. Such groups can educate parents about not only their own grief, but about coping with their other children’s sadness as well.

•    Recognizing suicide survivors has been the mission at the American Association of Suicidology since 1968. The association’s Web site also provides helpful data to help loved ones understand the nature of suicide.

•    Veterans Day and Memorial Day serve as a reminder of the noble sacrifices the men and women of our military (and their families) make in the service of their country. Losing a loved one to the call of duty brings its own unique sadness—one that is often coupled with pride. TAPS.org, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, provides comfort through a national database of local support groups, as well as 24-hour telephone assistance.

•    For more grief support group choices in your area, visit Google or Bing and simply type in “grief support group” along with your town name and state (or zip code).  Hospitals in your area can also help locate a specific type of support group, from losing a loved to cancer to taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s disease to countless other types of grief support.

While there may not be a national grief support organization for coping with the grief over a miscarriage, losing a parent or surviving a cancer patient, the sadness need not be your burden to carry alone. Online forums, such as the community section at Otrib.com, can help you deal with your unique grief and realize that with time comes healing, and that sometimes, all you need is to hear (or read) encouraging words from someone who understands what you’re going through.

Source: Flickr.com

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 at 6:37 pm and is filed under Support. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.