“Grief is the psychological-emotional experience following a loss of any kind (relationship, status, job, house, game, income, etc).”
Psychology Today
Actions For Now
Steps (& Apps) to Reduce Symptoms
- “Grief Deck”: Interactive digital deck of cards with tools for grief, accompanied by comforting artwork.
- “Tips for Coping with the Stages of Grief”: An article that discusses the different emotions people tend to feel while grieving, with case studies
- “Activities”: Drawing and writing exercises for children experiencing grief
- “Coping with Grief”: A brief (under 5 minutes) audio meditation
- “5 Tips for Dealing with Grief Over Christmas”: Handling a tough transition during holiday season. Targeted towards adults (for children, see resource #10).
- Emotion Explorer: Get to the bottom of how you’re feeling, how it’s affecting you, and what you can do to soothe yourself with this interactive website
- Grief Support Network: Join a social network for those grieving a loss
- “A Meditation on Grief”: A more lengthy audio meditation taken from The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace
- NPR, grief related podcasts: Listen to the latest news and stories on grief and loss
- Healing After Loss: A non-audio meditation for remembering a loved one
- Cause of Death-Specific Resources Organized by the Wendt Center: Find resources created specifically for those coping with losses due to cancer, suicide, military service, and more.
- Resources for suicide loss survivors: Collected books recommendations, fact sheets, and personal stories for those who’ve lost loved ones to suicide.
- Memorial Sites: It can be healing to memorialize loved ones. These websites allow you to do so online through photos, videos, virtual candle galleries, tributes, and more.
Loss of a Child/Pregnancy
- “What To Do After A Child Has Died”: Actions to take following a tragedy
- Helping Parents Heal: Resources for bereaved families
Loss of a Parent
- “8 Tips for Coping with the Death of a Parent”: Suggestions for those experiencing parental loss
Loss of a Spouse/Partner
- “A To-Do List for the Surviving Spouse”: What to (and not to) do while grieving the loss of a partner
- Surviving Spouse Financial Checklist: Manage financial obligations with this PDF
- “Death of Spouse,” OPM: How to change your annuity benefits after the death of a spouse, if you are retired under CSRS or FERS
- “How to Cope with Losing a Spouse: Advice From Those Who Have Been There”: Recommended next steps from others who have lost a partner
For Allies
Give the Best Support Possible
- “What You Can Do for a Person Who is Bereaved”: This webpage offers advice on how to assist loved ones who are grieving
- “How to Help a Grieving Friend: 11 Things To Do When You’re Not Sure What To Do”: How to support a friend while holding the knowledge that you can’t fix the unfixable
- “How to Talk to a Parent Who is In Grief”: The author, who lost her own daughter, offers advice on supporting other parents who’ve lost a child
- “How to Help Your Spouse Grieve the Loss of a Parent”: An article on providing support for your bereaved partner
You’re Not Alone
Connect with Others, Hear their Stories & Access Playlists
- Online Grief Support: A forum for individuals to share their experiences of loss and their successful coping strategies. It covers everything from the death of a family member or friend to the death of a pet.
- Check In With Me: Having a rough day and looking for support? This community from The Mighty has you covered.
- Grief Support Network: A social network for those grieving a loss
- “Pet Loss: When Nothing Eases the Pain”: Personal reflections on losing a pet, including thoughts about bringing a new pet into your home
Loss of Child/Pregnancy
- Faces of Hope: An online support community for those coping with miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss
- “Comparing Grief”: In this post, a mother who lost her son discusses how difficult it can be to listen to others complain about everyday losses
- “Reflections from a Father About a Lost Son”: A father shares how the loss of son has affected his life and how his religious beliefs have provided him with support
Loss of Parent
- “Losing a Parent in Your 20’s”: 1 year after the death of her father, this blogger reflects on her experience
- “Losing My Mother: I Was Supposed to Be Ready”: One woman discusses the expectation that adults will be prepared for their parents’ deaths—and how this doesn’t always reflect reality
- “The Truth About Parenting When You’ve Lost a Parent of Your Own”: This blogger reflects on how her father’s death altered her perspective as a parent
Loss of Spouse/Partner
- Sisterhood of Widows: An online community for widows
- “After Losing a Spouse, Finding a Different Kind of Happiness”: This NPR podcast looks at the story of K.T. Nicolaides, whose husband passed away two days before their fifth wedding anniversary
- “Getting On With Life After a Partner Dies”: This NYT article, by widower Jane Brody, reflects on the emotional experience of losing a spouse
- “Doing Well At Not Doing Well”: A father reflects on how he and his son continue daily activities despite continuing to grieve the passing of his wife
- “Tell Two Jokes and Call Me In the Morning”: A woman reflects on how humor helped her while she was grieving the loss of her husband
- “How to Cope with Losing a Spouse: Advice From Those Who Have Been There”: Recommended next steps from others who have lost a partner
- Soaring Spirits: An inclusive community for connecting with other widowed individuals
Tune In
Check out our Spotify playlist for Grief & Loss here
- “The Show Must Go On,” Queen
- “You’ll Be in My Heart,” Phil Collins
- “Casimir Pulaski Day,” Sufjan Stevens
- “See You Again,” Charlie Puth & Whiz Khalifa
- “Forever Young,” Bob Dylan
- “Live Forever,” Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
- “I Remember Her,” Ingrid Michaelson, Lucius
- “Left Behind,” Spring Awakening
- “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men
- “Requiem,” Dear Evan Hansen
- “In My Life,” The Beatles
- “Dance With My Father,” Luther Vandross
- “Always On My Mind,” Willie Nelson
- “I Will Remember You,” Sarah McLachlan
- “Ronan,” Taylor Swift
- “Only One,” Kanye West
- “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” Judy Garland
- “Let it Be,” The Beatles
- “Landslide,” Fleetwood Mac
- “Tears in Heaven,” Eric Clapton
- “For Good,” Wicked
- “ghostin,” Ariana Grande
- “Fire and Rain,” James Taylor
- “Soon You’ll Get Better,” Taylor Swift ft. The Dixie Chicks
- “I’ll Be Missing You,” Faith Evans & Puff Daddy
- “Those You’ve Known,” Spring Awakening
- “Seasons of Love,” Rent
Master The Subject
Learn How it Works & The Science Behind It
- American Psychological Association, “Grief”: This webpage offers a thorough definition of what it means to grieve, and tips for moving forward from a loss
- Open to Hope: This website offers articles, videos, and podcasts on the loss of friends and/or family members
- “Grief Facts”: Statistics and education about grief, covering topics including infant death, men and grief, suicide, and child grief, among others
- Sesame Street, “Grief”: Videos and other resources from Sesame Street covering grief and loss
- TEDx Talk, “How to Live a Full Life After Grief”: This Tedx Talk discusses gratitude as a foundation for healing
- Mayo Clinic, “Coping with Reminders After Loss”: Advice on dealing with reminders of grief, even if significant time has passed since the initial loss
- “What are the Most Common Symptoms of Grief?”: A brief video surveying frequent reactions to loss
- “Bereavement in Adult Life”: This article examines adult responses to grief
- “Grieving in the Modern World”: Elizabeth Tschoegl, LICSW, MSc discusses some of the modern-day challenges to coping with loss
- “When Sobriety Meets Grief (and Grief Meets Sobriety)”: A discussion of how the two issues of substance use and grief often interact, and advice for how to cope with both
Loss of Child/Pregnancy
- Helping Parents Heal: Resources for bereaved families
- “After a Miscarriage: Surviving Emotionally”: This article reflects on how individuals can cope with and move forward from the loss of a child during pregnancy, birth, and/or infancy’
Loss of Parent
- “Death of Parents and Adult Psychological and Physical Wellbeing”: A study that observes the effects of parental loss on adult health
- “When A Parent Dies”: This article looks at the impact of parental death
Loss of Spouse/Partner
- “When a Spouse Dies, Resilience Can Be Uneven”: This New York Times article looks at the importance of resilience in moving forward from the death of a spouse or partner
- “Intimate Survival: When the Veteran You love Commits Suicide Anyway”: Marilyn, the widow of a veteran who died as a result of his PTSD, discusses her journey and personal steps towards healing.
Advocate
Connect to the Larger Movement
- Center for Complicated Grief: An organization dedicated to improving the lives of complicated grief sufferers via innovative research and outreach
- The National Center for Grieving Children and Families: Designed as a safe place for people of all ages to share their stories and find grief resources
Loss of Child/Pregnancy
- Compassionate Friends: Support for those grieving the death of a child
- Faces of Hope: An online support community for those coping with miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss
Loss of Spouse/Partner
- Soaring Spirits: An inclusive community for connecting with other widowed individuals
- National Widowers Association: Resources for grieving men
- Sisterhood of Widows: An online community for widows