Signed Up To Repeat The Grief Support Group
[ Wednesday March 8th 2023 at 3:24 pm ]
Starting in November 2022 I took part in a 7 week grief support group. I joined this as an adjunct activity while going to a social worker for help moving on with my life from my aunt dying. It has been a miserable experience. Except this is the same type of miserable as with the various hip surgeries I've had as an adult. The grief support group was a means to helping me. The underlying challenge that caused this is the chronic pain I experience. Emotional related issues take me more time to figure out. It is challenging addressing emotionally related issues while experiencing near constant pain.
Even though it has been miserable I've found it to be positive. This has been the same as my hip surgeries: The benefit is in the long term even though the short term is difficult. About two months ago the burden of my aunt dying started going away. It switched from being a black hole or void in my life to being about the memories I have of her and I. The effort has been completely worth it. I am expecting to have about 4 more appointments with the social worker in order to have gone over what I was needing someone to help me with me. As a result of living with near constant pain it has been much easier for me to talk through the grief support group homework and additional readings compared to doing it by myself.
I expressed interest in repeating the 7 week group when it ended in December 2022. This is the first time someone had requested it. The organization that hosts the group was understanding when I expressed this was about the chronic pain I experience in my legs. My right knee joint had buckled on September 30th 2022. The pain in my legs was out of control for 5 of the 7 weeks of the group the first time around. I believe there would be more I'd get out of the group if I did it a second time. Since I am further along in the grieving process I also think I'll hear some of what I didn't hear the first time around. The group felt rushed in November 2022. I had benefited from it. I had wished it would have lasted a bit longer.
I have now been presented with the opportunity to do the group a second time starting in two weeks. I've accepted this opportunity. This will coincide with what I need the social worker to help me with finishing off. I expect it will be the same type of miserable but positive in the long run. I am very grateful for the opportunity.