Graham Greene once said, “writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation.”
Every spring and summer, as the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, people are looking for reasons to get outside. When a loved one is or has been affected by a terminal or chronic illness, it’s easier than ever to make that reason count.
Men are supposed to be strong. That’s what society has told us for generations. Even as society’s expectations have gradually changed, many men still try to remain stoic even when they experience a deep, personal loss. Understanding how men grieve can help men understand their own emotions and help those who love them to provide the support they need in a difficult time.
Loneliness is a feeling that everyone experiences at one time or another. In older adults, feelings of loneliness and isolation can be more common for a number of reasons. According to the latest National Poll on Healthy Aging, recently highlighted in a Time magazine article, nearly one-third of seniors report feeling a lack of companionship or connection in their old age.
Memorial Day is an American holiday observed every year on the last Monday in May. According to USMemorialDay.org, more than 1.8 million soldiers have given their lives for our country since 1775.
Regardless of the circumstances, the death of a loved one is always painful. Grief is a powerful emotion. This is true even when a death is expected after a long illness. But when the death is sudden and unexpected, the traumatic nature of the loss can make it even more difficult to cope.
