grief Archives - Heather Edwards Mental Health Counseling

Ritual. Grief. Quarantine.

April 15, 2020

Ritual. It brings family, friends, and communities together. It binds you in your values. It bonds you in your shared beliefs. It connects your mind, body, and spirit. But what if rituals don't exist? Sunday was Easter. I’m not a terribly religious person, but I knew that I wouldn’t be with my family for a traditional gathering. And it felt like a freight train rolled in and parked on my chest. I woke up sad. The familiar heavy fog of longing for something that wouldn’t be, had settled in while I slept. My family ritual was not happening today. And I'm not alone in that. Weddings, funerals, bar & bat mitzvah's, seders, school & sports events, and more have also been cancelled or modified. It's a loss...

Adulthood Sucks… or does it?

September 29, 2016

Articles

Last Friday I was sitting in the dentist’s chair chuckling between tooth jabbings with the hygienist, Jessica. She told me she bought a T-shirt for her friend who's fallen on hard times. It reads, “I'm not a gynecologist but I'll take a look.”. We laughed and I replied that I just bought a T-shirt for my sister that reads, “Sorry I'm late. I didn't want to come.” We relished each other’s sense of humor & noted how serious adulthood can be, if you let it. And how extra important it is to be silly & have fun, and acknowledge emotional pain and indulge your dreams. Later that day I attended another doctor appointment and then took a long drive out of state to a dear one’s funeral....

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Turn Toward the Enemy – Mastering negative emotions

December 21, 2015

Articles

You feel stuck. Trapped. Immobilized. When in the therapy and coaching room, conversations about fear, regret, disappointment, and frustration arise and take center stage. It’s easy to fall prey, be guided and controlled by negative emotions, even feel consumed by them. It's an uncomfortable place. It's dark, heavy, constricting. It can hold you hostage. And it can intensify before it dissipates. Recognize negative emotions not as your enemy but as your informant. Acknowledge them. Accept them. Be open to them. Question them. Break them down. Look those unsavories in the eye. Release their grip. Identify the building blocks of negativity. Uncover the hidden messages. Initiate a plan designed for empowerment. When you turn toward your anger, fear, and sadness you validate the experience of the pain. You soothe and comfort, rather than avoid...

accepting anger change coping fear grief mindful negative regret resentment sadness

The Butterfly: In a Time of Loss, a Symbol of Transcendence

September 8, 2015

Articles

Loss. Heartbreak. Tragedy. Despair. It’s felt by millions everyday. Today, it hits my hometown. Confused, saddened, enraged. I’m moved by the heartfelt Facebook posts of friends, classmates, and neighbors memorializing the life and gifts of a friend, mother, sister, and role model passing on too soon. Yesterday, she was murdered. Domestic Violence claimed her life. It's a senseless, tragic misuse of power and control. According to DomesticViolenceStatistics.org: Every 9 seconds in the US a woman is assaulted or beaten. Around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Most often, the abuser is a member of her own family. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women—more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. Studies suggest that...

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Heather Edwards psychotherapy and coaching

The Pain of Grief: and how to live through it

August 18, 2015

Articles

Suddenly someone you love is gone. You're faced with an irreversible new reality - a life without a loved one you thought would always be there. You feel hopeless, distraught, and life has lost its meaning. Grief can send you spiraling into despair. A death, break up, or an illness can dramatically change your life. Each type of loss has a profound effect on wellbeing. But when armed with awareness of the natural processes of healing, it can be easier to navigate this unwanted life transition. There is a beginning, middle, and end. And it gets better. Grief can make you stronger, kinder, more gracious, and loving when you come out on the other side of it. But it requires a passing through. It can feel like a...

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Psychology Today – Saying Goodbye to Hurt

October 10, 2014

Articles, Psychology Today Articles - In the Press!, Relationships, Stress Management

Lingering resentment from things that have gone wrong is hard to shake. Whether it’s the result of a bad break up or a job loss, it’s best to find some resolution. It would be wonderful if we all got exactly what we wanted, and when we wanted it. But, the hard truth is that good things often take a lot of time and usually a few set backs along the way. Once you’ve made a strong commitment and things still don’t work out, how do you pick up the pieces and carry on? To find your center again, you'll have to muster the strength to let go of negative feelings and shift your attention to a world that is more positive. So, how do you get that betrayal or toxic...

grief hurt psychology today resentment stress management

Psychology Today: When Media Becomes Exploitation

May 8, 2014

Articles, Psychology Today Articles - In the Press!

This article was written by Heather Edwards and published during the 2014 Winter Olympics by Mark Banschick, M.D. in Psychology Today. It summarizes the exploitive media interview with Bode Miller about the loss of his brother at the completion of his run, and the impact of grief. This Olympics featured a phenomenal performance of the competitors in the men's super-G. Many of us were riveted and delighted by the competition. In the end, Norway's Kjetil Jansrud won the gold medal, Andrew Weibrecht brought home the silver, and Bode Miller rounded out the podium tied for the bronze with Canadian, Jan Hudek. It was an awe inspiring show of the world's best athletes. Finding Pain in Victory: At the end of Bode Miller’s run, in the moment of victory and realizing that the sacrifice, sweat, and...

#relationships coaching grief heather edwards inspired life coaching mindfulness mood psychology stress management

Psychology Today – When Children Grieve

February 4, 2014

Articles, Psychology Today Articles - In the Press!

This article was originally published in Psychology Today on February 3, 2014. It is written by Heather Edwards and Dr. Mark Banschick. The holidays are over. But, sometimes events stop us in our tracks. Death never leaves us; it’s one reason why we so urgently celebrate Hanukah, Christmas and the New Year. We have this blessed life to live. So we grab it. Our guest blogger, Heather Edwards, tells us another tale. It is a true story about a child who lost a classmate. How are we to help children grieve? And, what do they teach us in the process? A Child's Sadness: On Christmas Day this year, my 7-year-old cousin Evan began to cry in the midst of family merriment. A sudden full body sobbing experience had overcome him. He looked up at me; face...

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grief Tag

Ritual. Grief. Quarantine.

Adulthood Sucks… or does it?

Turn Toward the Enemy – Mastering negative emotions

The Butterfly: In a Time of Loss, a Symbol of Transcendence

The Pain of Grief: and how to live through it

Psychology Today – Saying Goodbye to Hurt

Psychology Today: When Media Becomes Exploitation

Psychology Today – When Children Grieve

Heather Edwards LMHC

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