“Loss is an inevitable part of life, and grief is a natural part of the healing process. The reasons for grief are many, such as the loss of a loved one, the loss of health, or the letting go of a long-held dream. Dealing with a significant loss can be one of the most difficult times in a person’s life.” (University of Texas Counseling and Mental Health Center, 2015)
The resources below provide more information on grief — what it is, signs and symptoms, the many potential causes, and steps you can take to grieve in a healthy manner.
- Grief and Loss (University of Texas)
- Healthy Grieving (University of Washington)
- The Stages of Grief: Accepting the Unacceptable (University of Washington)
Resources
University of Lynchburg Counseling Center
The Counseling Center has highly qualified Licensed Mental Health Counselors available to assist students with a variety of issues. The center provides counseling and education to help you feel your best and relate to others in a healthy way. We welcome the opportunity to talk with you about any source of concern.
Spiritual Life
The Spiritual Life Center (SLC) provides services and support for the spiritual needs of all students. We’re located at 500 Brevard St., behind Schewel Hall.
Hotlines That Can Help
There are several local and national crisis hotlines that can help you 24 hours a day. Learn more from this resource with specific hotline numbers (including texting options).
Mental Health Screening
Sometimes we struggle to move past our grief and it can become something more. This is a brief, anonymous, and confidential screening that helps you determine if you should connect with a mental health professional. Immediately following the brief questionnaire, you will see your results, recommendations, and key resources.
Podcast: Meditation Oasis
Over 60 episodes of guided meditation focusing on various topics. Specifically, this link leads to the episode “Guided Meditation for Grief.”
Tip Sheet: Grief and Loss
When we lose someone close to us, we go through a process of grieving and mourning. When the loss is sudden or tragic, that process can be made even more difficult. As we go through the grieving process, it is important to recognize it and know the ways to best help yourself get through it.
YouTube: Brene Brown on Empathy
What is the best way to ease someone’s pain and suffering? In this beautifully animated short, Dr. Brené Brown reminds us that we can only create a genuine empathic connection if we are brave enough to really get in touch with our own fragilities.
YouTube: Guided Spoken Meditation for healing after a loss of a loved one
A healing guided meditation to help you with the grieving process over the loss of a loved one.
Headspace: Meditation made simple. These guided meditations from Headspace are suitable for all levels. Meditation can help improve your focus, exercise mindful awareness, relieve anxiety and reduce stress. Available for download free on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Grief Support Network: This social networking app connects and supports people who have grieved. Includes walls to post messages, chat features, and information about grief health and grief attacks. Also includes videos, photos, and activities to help you process when feeling overwhelmed by grief. Available for download free on the Apple App Store.
Virtual Hope Box: Contains simple tools to help with coping, relaxation, distraction, and positive thinking. Users can include family photos, videos and recorded messages from loved ones, inspirational quotes, music they find soothing, and positive life experiences. Available for download free on the Apple App Store and Google Play.