On Purpose Grief and Loss

12/30/2021

…and eventually, your grief will walk beside you instead of consuming you.

12/27/2021

12/24/2021

12/14/2021

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12/12/2021

"Those grieving are dealing with a lot of emotions. “Avoid the statement: ‘I’m sorry, may I do anything for you?’” While well-intended, this statement puts the burden on the grieving person to try and come up with something that you can do for them."

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-grieving-people-want-holidays_l_61ae5fb0e4b07c4c95c18086

The season isn't always so merry. Here's how to adequately support loved ones dealing with loss right now.

12/06/2021

Holiday host etiquette: If you’re inviting someone to your home and they’re grieving, be sure you’re inviting their grief to attend, too. It will be there, anyway.

Don’t invite someone with the goal of cheering them up for the holidays. Don’t expect them to put on a happy face in your home. Don’t demand they fake it til they make it or do something they don’t want to do, either.

Invite them with the loving intention of offering cheer and companionship and unconditional care during the holidays. To do this, you will need to honor and be responsive to their needs and emotions.

You can do this by privately acknowledging their grief when you make the invitation:

“I know this season is extra hard and your heart is hurting. You and your grief are welcome in our home. Come as you are, we’d be honored to have you with us.”

It’s also incredibly loving to honor the reality that it’s often hard for grieving folks to know what they will want, need, be up for, or able to tolerate at the holidays.

Giving them an invite without the need for commitment and permission to change their mind is extra loving:

“You don’t have to decide right now. If it feels good to be with us, we will have plenty of food and love for you-just show up! I’ll check in again the day before to see if you’re feeling up to coming over and if there’s anything you’d like me to know about how we can support you.”

Your grieving friends and fam need attentive care and responsiveness at the holidays, not plans to keep them busy, distracted, and happy.

If they’re laughing, laugh with them.

If they’re weeping, ask if they’d like your company or your help finding a quiet place to snuggle up alone for awhile.

If they’re laughing while weeping, and this is more common than you’d think, stay with them - this is a precious moment of the human experience that is truly sacred.

We don’t need to protect ourselves or each other from grief at the holidays. In fact, the more we embrace grief as an honored holiday guest, the more healthy, happy, and whole our holidays will be. 🙏

In solidarity,
Sarah Nannen

11/24/2021

Yes, there's this.

Coping In The Wake Of Trauma - Group 💙

Trauma and loss have collided in a single episode of mass violence in Waukesha County. There is heartache for the loss of loved ones, concern and anguish for first responders, businesses, and witnesses on the scene, and a gaping wound in our communal sense of safety and security. For all those wondering where to start the healing journey, we are offering a series of opportunities over the next several weeks to answer that question.

Join On Purpose Psyche’s Grief & Loss division as we share important evidence-based resources on community trauma recovery and repair.

To sign-up for this virtual group, head over to:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45ACAA2EA3FEC70-group

• Learn from the research on trauma and loss about how you can build resilience and manage the roller coaster of emotions that follow such incidents. Yes, we’re talking about how to cope in your personal life, including best practices to mitigate the long-term effects of trauma.

• Find out how to speak to your children, family members, coworkers, and those not in your community to help them manage their fears and anxieties. (It is about how you say what you say, who you share your story with, and the compassionate language you use as you do so).

• Discover what other communities have done to rebuild their faith when their “it will never happen here” core belief was shattered. You can recover, and knowing the strength of our Waukesha residents, you will.

* Sessions are held virtually spanning a 2 hour time period. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions.

11/24/2021

11/24/2021

11/24/2021

Emotional distress experienced and challenges in the healing process after tragedies and disasters are not uncommon. Know that you are never alone throughout the journey, and the On Purpose Psyche team is here to support you. Included below are some steps and resources for coping:

On Purpose Psyche: 262-200-1454
Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or Text 1-800-985-5990

1.https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline/coping-tips

2https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/atg/PDFs/Be_Red_Cross_Ready/EmotionalHealth.pdf

3.https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/jul2020/supporting-young-children-after-crisis-events

4.https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/helping-children-cope.html

11/24/2021

Located inside our front office ... the brainchild of Natalie Natalie Haefele Sorrentino, an amazingly creative soul and art therapist here at On Purpose Psyche.

The Whisper Wall 🎨 💙

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for." - Georgia O'Keeffe

On Purpose Psyche would like to invite you and your family to share a whisper that’s on your heart about the Waukesha Parade tragedy. If there is a worry, a sorrow, or also a hope that you want to share please release it from your heart on our Whisper Wall. In times like this, we understand how important it is to connect with others. Bring your doodles, your drawings, or any part of you that reminds us that we are all in this together.

With love,
On Purpose Psyche