Widowed Person Support Group
The death of a spouse is probably one of the most traumatic occurrences that any of us will ever face. It is not unusual for the person experiencing the loss to feel alone and helpless. There is help for coping with the loss of a spouse.
One of the most common concerns expressed by widows and widowers is that no one can possibly understand how they feel. Although loved ones and friends offer compassion and sympathy, they may have never experienced the same type of loss and cannot fully understand their feelings. Also, it's not unusual for close friends to avoid contact with the newly widowed person, which heightens that feeling of loss and isolation, as well as abandonment.
Sometimes a recently widowed person may think that staying busy is the solution to their grief. But grief may resurface a few years later. It can show up in a variety of ways – lack of energy, illness, depression, etc.
One lady that attends the group was told by her neurologist that she was suffering from repressed grieving. Her husband had passed away about two and a half years earlier. Linda Tennison, CSS Certified Bereavement Facilitator, happened to visit her on another matter and began to talk with her about her grief. She encouraged the lady to join our widowed person’s support group.
The lady began attending right away, and says it was the best thing for her, and commented, “The example of Linda alone is so uplifting.” The lady has been coming for a couple of years now and says she has met such nice people and made good friends. “I didn’t take time to grieve before. Now I talk with people that are going through the same thing I did.”
Speaking with someone who truly understands your feelings is a burden no longer shared alone. There is a special bond among people who experience similar circumstances. It helps when someone says, "I know how you feel. The same thing happened to me."
Linda Tennison coordinates our widowed persons program, and is a certified bereavement facilitator. Not only is she a professional in the field, but she has also experienced the devastating sudden death of a spouse. She personally understands the distress and helplessness that people feel.
It’s important to know what kind of help is available. Sharing information is part of what this support group does. In any situation that brings stress to your daily life, it's helpful to know that you are not alone.
Our group meets the fourth Thursday of each month from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at our center in the Union Township Civic Center. If you would like more information about our program, please call Linda Tennison at Clermont Senior Services, 724-1255.