Three social web networks to help you cope with grief

By Hilary Frew on November 23, 2012

Overcome grief with online support
Credit: http://www.atlantatherapist.com/

 

Its the holiday season, and as with any holiday, good and bad memories can ascend from family events. Maybe it’s the first Christmas without your grandma, or maybe a loved one is absent because he or she is in the military overseas.

Luckily, with the advent of Social Media, it is possible to connect with people online, through forums or chat. These websites will help you in finding healing and hope for any grief you might be experiencing.

1. Griefnet.org promotes itself as an “internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss.”  It’s a unique website because not only does it offer grief support to adults, but also children.

The sister site, KIDSAID.com, aims to provide support to grieving children, as well as resources for them and their parents to cope with the loss.

An image created on Facebook for children’s grief awareness day
Credit: http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/

GriefNet has 50 email support groups and one can also create a memorial for their loved one. You simply put the person’s name, his or her birth and death date, and then your name and a password. On the last part of the form, you can add pictures, a background theme, music or text to go along with it. Here’s an example.

 

2. Mygriefsupportgroup.ning.com has a mission to make friends and chat with counselors in order to gather advice, strength and hope through forums of discussion.

They have a blog section, ranging from topics of grief to peace.  In addition, they have a YouTube channel, with videos focusing on a wide range of topics, from living and dying without regret, to coping with a suicide.

There is a photo section, where you can post a picture of yourself with a loved one, or just the loved one individually. A sentence can also be added with the picture.

 

3.  Griefshare.org is designed for those who are struggling with loss due to the death of a loved one. So, it specifically focuses on the period after bereavement (or the loss of a loved one).

They suggest to speak to a “pastor or church leader” in an effort to find a different kind of grief support group.

On this site, you’re invited to join a Grief Share group and together, you watch videos on a weekly basis relating to grief based on case studies, with re-enactments and real solutions presented by experts.

Participants discuss their thoughts about the videos in a group setting. Each week, they are encouraged to write down the thoughts and emotions they are experiencing in their “workbooks” as all of this goes on.

One unique feature of this support site is that one can sign up for “Season of Grief” daily emails. The user receives an email every day for a full year, filled with uplifting phrases to  encourage participants to keep going strong and to stay up-to-date with the website.

 

There you have it, guys. If you find this Holiday season leaving you feeling down in the dumps, check out a couple of these websites and see how you will transform into a happier person over time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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