GRIEF 

• Know that you can survive, even if you feel you can't.
• Intense feelings of grief can be overwhelming and frightening. This is normal. You're not going crazy; you're grieving.
• Feelings of guilt, confusion, anger, and fear are common responses to grief.
• You may experience thoughts of suicide. This is common. It doesn't mean you'll act on the thoughts.
• Forgetfulness is a common, but temporary side effect. Grieving takes so much energy that other things may fade in importance.
• Keep asking “why” until you no longer need to ask.
• Healing takes time. Allow yourself the time you need to grieve.
• Grief has no predictable pattern or timetable. Though there are elements of commonality in grief, each person and each situation is unique.
• Delay making major decisions if possible.
• The path of grief is one of twists and turns and you may often feel you are getting nowhere. Remember even setbacks are a kind of progress.
• This is the hardest thing you will ever do. Be patient with yourself.
• Seek out people who are willing to listen when you need to talk and who understand your need to be silent.
• Give yourself permission to seek professional help.
• Avoid people who try to tell you what to feel and how to feel it and, in particular, those who think you should “be over it by now.”
• Find a support group for survivors that provides a safe place for you to express your feelings, or simply a place to go to be with other survivors who are experiencing some of the same things you're going through

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