This weekend I read an amazing book my sister gave me, "Still Alice" by Lisa Genova. It is the story of Alice, a brilliant woman suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. A year after her official diagnosis, Alice formed the first support group in her area for early-onset Alzheimer’s patients. There are already support groups for the caregivers of these patients, but not a network of the patients themselves.
Once the patients meet, they share stories of the disease that only those dealing with Alzheimer’s understand. Together they feel “normal” for a while. Three months after forming this support group, Alice gives a speech at the Dementia Care Conference and implores the audience to empower Alzheimer’s patients rather than branding them with a scarlet “A”.
Similarly, people who’ve experienced the death of a loved one are often branded, and isolation results. That’s why it is so important for grief support groups to exist – so people can feel normal and talk openly without judgment.
We can all better support those in our lives who are grieving – if we are strong enough. Let them know you are there to listen. It may be while peeling potatoes over the kitchen sink with your mother-in-law. It may be asking a coworker how the first Christmas holiday went after the death of someone they know during a quiet moment in the office mail room. It may be over a glass of wine at dinner. They may not tell you much but I guarantee they will appreciate the fact that you empowered them to talk about it. You can acknowledge people's grief and open the door for conversation, whenever.
This Grief Awareness Day, 3/1/2012, let’s commit to empowering everyone to share their grief story.
Would you like to share your story? Please get in touch with Kate's Club! KC has free grief support with grief resources, grief counseling resources, grief training, and volunteer work in Atlanta and surrounding places in Georgia. Kate's Club is a growing nonprofit in Atlanta with grief specialists for kids and young adults going through bereavement. Our goal is to make a world where it is okay to grieve.