GROWING AROUND GRIEF
The traditional theoretical model of grief assumes various 'stages' to be worked through, culminating in resolution. Toady mpre people are recognising that grief does not 'go away'. Instead it becomes part of 'the new you'.
This is a different way of looking at grief and recovery, and was described by a mother who had lost her child.
She realised that her grief would never entirely dissappear, but she assumed that over time it would become much smaller until it was encapsulated in her life in a small and manageable way.The circle represents her life and is totally filled with her grief - it is all consuming and affects every part of her life.Dark despair was everywhere.
This model illustrates that personal grief never goes away. It explains that 'dark days' can suddenly come 'out of the blue'. It also gives permission to grow a new life, to integrate a loss without guilt, and to move forward.
To help on those 'dark days' the NBT Helplines are available every evening of the year (no exceptions!) between 6.00pm and 10.00pm
General Helpline: 0800 435 455
Asian Languages: 0800 9177 416
If a sympathetic listening ear may help -
PLEASE RING. CALLS ARE FREE
What happened?
Her grief remained just as big but a new life grew around it. The experience of grief had changed ythe shape of her life. Although it remained with her, and at times overwhelmed her again like a huge wave, she was increasingly able to live her new life, with her grief experience contained within it.
> The first step is the difficult one.
