Good Grief: What Does It Mean to Mourn in a Healthy Way?
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This column was authored by the executive director of the Meadows Institute’s Trauma and Grief Center, Julie Kaplow, PhD and published in was published in Psychology Today on August 22, 2024.
Death may be universal, but it’s still a taboo subject in this country.
Perhaps because American society is so focused on remaining youthful and forestalling aging, we have not done a good job of acknowledging death and supporting individuals who are grieving.
There may never be a better time to begin doing so. New York Life Foundation’s most recent State of Grief Report showed that 68 percent of respondents would like a more open dialogue around the topic of grief.
Grief is a natural part of life and a reflection of the love we have for the person who died. However, our society’s culture of silence surrounding bereavement has not only limited our ability to recognize the painful aspects of grief but has also denied us opportunities to identify and talk about how we can grieve in healthy and adaptive ways.