Sometimes our grief is too much to hold. Sometimes it is too heavy to carry and needs to be set down, allowing us time to rest. Sometimes it is too overwhelming or sad and needs to be contained for a time, allowing us a moment to be and to breathe.

Creating a container for grief can be a way of regaining control at a time when it feels lost. We can place grief in a safe, protected place, holding it and sorting it as we are able, and allowing a container to hold it for us when we need to set it down.

Traumatic loss is at its heart, a stress response. It is normal and adaptive, but can leave us anxious and feeling ungrounded. Fortunately, we can engage our parasympathetic nervous system to counter this automatic response. Try these simple grounding techniques to enhance self-relaxation and create a sense of calm.

Parenting kids is stressful on a good day. During times of traumatic loss, this stress can rise to a whole new level for caregivers who may feel unprepared to respond to children during these critical times. Read suggestions about how to have challenging conversations with children and help them process the difficult thoughts, feelings, and changes happening in their lives.

One’s reaction to loss is automatic. It just happens. And it can feel overwhelming and more painful than anything we may have previously experienced. You are not losing it. You are simply grieving, as you are supposed to.