Daily Excerpt: Harnessing the Power of Grief (Potter) - Grief in Modern Times
Excerpt from Harnessing the Power of Grief (Potter): Grief in Modern Times “Are we perhaps simply formalizing and making applicable to urban life a procedure that would naturally be followed in rural and more closely knit communities?” —Phyllis Silverman studied widowed and children’s grief and the benefits of mutual support [ Silverman ] [1] Where we are today Western culture gives limited attention and support to those who are grieving. After a few weeks of grieving, our action-oriented culture thinks (and hopes) you are okay and wants you to return to normal. Some may seem uncomfortable in speaking with you. You may sense that people are avoiding you or avoiding the topic of your loss in conversation. The level of discomfort may increase with the severity of the loss, e.g., a homicide, a suicide, the death of a child, or a sudden death. People may also underestimate the effect on you of other kinds of losses: divorce, relocation, or...