Tangled Ball of Feelings

Some of you may have seen an illustration of what we expect grief to look like versus what it actually looks like. Our expectation is often one derived from the stages of grief, with a starting point, some steps or phases of feelings, and then a resolution or end. But the reality often looks like a tangled ball of yarn, which is why those stages are a bit problematic. And it can also be more complicated because we have an expectation that looks very different from reality.

Part of the problem with the reality is that we often don't share it. We feel like something must be wrong with us because we aren't doing it the way we were taught and we feel some shame that we are more needy than necessary.

If you work with grievers and give them any chance to talk about this, you will likely find that many of them feel this way. Giving them a chance to voice that in a group can reduce the stigma and shame that often accompanies grief. So today, I am providing an activity that will encourage people to share their grief in a visual way with others. Click here to download the activity and share with your support groups, classes, or teams.