Verified by Psychology Today

The Mourning After

Grief, death, traumatic loss, coping, not coping, and the things I wish I’d known about all of them.

Trauma
Traumatic Loss: A Double Blow

Leah Royden on August 31, 2019

Talking is often essential to grieving, but some losses are "unspeakable." Many people are out of their depth around traumatic topics, and that's where therapy can help.

Talking is often essential to grieving, but some losses are "unspeakable." Many people are out of their depth around traumatic topics, and that's where therapy can help.

Suicide
Sibling Suicide: An Avalanche on Life's Path

Leah Royden on July 30, 2019

Studies that have examined the impact of sibling loss have highlighted an impact that ripples out through all areas of life. What can be done to lessen it?

Studies that have examined the impact of sibling loss have highlighted an impact that ripples out through all areas of life. What can be done to lessen it?

Grief
Numbed Out: When Feelings Freeze Up After a Bereavement

Leah Royden on June 30, 2019

Most of us know that it's normal to feel numb in grief. But that doesn't mean it feels acceptable when it's your own feelings that pack up and leave the building.

Most of us know that it's normal to feel numb in grief. But that doesn't mean it feels acceptable when it's your own feelings that pack up and leave the building.

Grief
The Trouble With 'Complicated Grief'

Leah Royden on April 29, 2019

'Complicated grief' isn't defined by the presence of observable symptoms - it's defined by the absence of ‘normality’. But how can we possibly label a griever's process 'abnormal'?

'Complicated grief' isn't defined by the presence of observable symptoms - it's defined by the absence of ‘normality’. But how can we possibly label a griever's process 'abnormal'?

Grief
Mourning Together

Leah Royden on March 22, 2019

The Christchurch mosque shootings rocked New Zealand with a raw, numb, disorienting sense of horror. It's still all we can talk about—but will talking help?

The Christchurch mosque shootings rocked New Zealand with a raw, numb, disorienting sense of horror. It's still all we can talk about—but will talking help?

Suicide
Sibling Suicide Survivors: The "Forgotten Mourners"

Leah Royden on February 15, 2019

Those who lose a sibling to suicide suffer a "double loss"—their sibling is gone, and so is their family as they knew it. Typically, they mourn both losses alone.

Those who lose a sibling to suicide suffer a "double loss"—their sibling is gone, and so is their family as they knew it. Typically, they mourn both losses alone.

Suicide
There Must Be Something Wrong With Them

Leah Royden on January 13, 2019

We like to think we offer compassion to those bereaved by suicide, and that stigma was left back in the Middle Ages. Does research reveal more medieval attitudes?

We like to think we offer compassion to those bereaved by suicide, and that stigma was left back in the Middle Ages. Does research reveal more medieval attitudes?

Grief
Ghosts at the Christmas Table

Leah Royden on December 14, 2018

How do you make it through the tinsel, turkey, and togetherness when somebody you love is never coming home for Christmas?

How do you make it through the tinsel, turkey, and togetherness when somebody you love is never coming home for Christmas?

Grief
A New Normal

Leah Royden on December 6, 2018

People often say you “never get over” losing a loved one—and in the early days of raw grief, those words can feel like your own death sentence. But are they true?

People often say you “never get over” losing a loved one—and in the early days of raw grief, those words can feel like your own death sentence. But are they true?