For Widows Only Forum

Any ideas when you need to talk to someone - face to face - as opposed to online. After 3 yrs of floundering on my own, I decided that maybe I should talk with someone to really get past some things in my life and start over.

Hi-First of all I would suggest talking to your doctor to see if you are depressed. Then a good grief councelor. You can find grief councelors right in your local phone book. I think some insurances pay for grief counceling. Good luck. You can do it!!!!

I dont know where you are located , so that is the first thing,
I would do a local resource online to see what is offered in your area, that might help. I have been to two counselors,
the first worked at a hopital, and usuaully it was a half hour apt, I found she was constantly interupted while I was there,
knocks at the door, and telephone calls, since I was the most
"normal" of anyone she dealt with I usualy handled it,
so then I found another gal that my insuarnce covered,
but after going for a year, she didnt return my call when I forgot my apt, and then I thought its been 2 years, and this has really gotten nowhere, because the people causing my stress
havent change, all I can do is change me and accept that they are not very intelligent about grief, and dont love and support at all, so I will have to reach out to ones that are
supportive, sometimes my best girl friend is better, she lets me do it all for free, and had been totally supportive listening, etc...is there anyone you can trust and confide in other than a trained counselor who would offer that to you, a listening ear and a caring heart are sometimes worth taking the risk of being
taking that chance. Are there other widows in your area at all,
maybe there is a church group where you are that meet, that is something I long for. Just to get with others for lunch and talk..it all out and to learn how they are coping, that is why I come to fwo, but face to face would help as you say.
Griefshare is a support group , can go to their website online,
griefshare.com and type in your zipcode and see if it is offered , that might help too, there is alos BE, beguinning experience that is for both loss thru death and divorce,
might be a church group in your area, check there too.
hope it works out.

I got online and found a christian conseling group and did contact, I got advised that I have a very unloving unsupportive family and should stay away from them since they are toxic,
that is not easy to hear, or live with but is probably for the best..
for now..
it was worth the email to go thru it,
and understand how badly I have been treated and have that acknowledged by a professional licensed christian based counselor
she also said the other family members sounded like they needed counseling on how to handle someone grieving, by not attacking, condemning etc..
so that helped. hope you find support in your need.

Greifshare was already mentioned, but I just wanted to write to say that I went to the local Griefshare program and found it VERY helpful at the perfect time that I needed it and was able to handle it. At the time it had been 6 months since Mark passed away...enough time that I could begin to share how I was feeling, if I chose to, and there were others there who were going through similar experiences or had been through it already and were kind and understanding and helpful. So yes, I'd highly recommend Griefshare if there's a group local to you.

Diane in PA

P.S. If you go to the Griefshare.org web site, you can find out if they have a group near you.

I have never heard of grief share until I came here. I don't think we have such a group here in Wisconsin. I found my grief support groups through the funeral home and a hospital.

I'm from mid-Wisconsin and there are GriefShare groups here. I believe they are connected to the local hospital - which is run by a religious order of nuns. I don't know if religion has any part in organizing this group. I haven't attended GriefShare, but know others, including children, who have found help and comfort with GriefShare, including a family who attends a group for families who've experienced a suicide.

Ladybug