Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group
Find support with others who have gone through a traumatic experience. Whether you have chronic or acute PTSD, we are here for you.
I enjoy my post-hospital chaplaincy job at the community college. I teach nursing students the care of patients at end of life in 3 courses at a time cross-listed between psychology and philosophy. It's meaningful both professionally using the chaplaincy stuff, and personally since chaplaincy, this job, and everything relates to my PTSD recovery always.
This time of every semester the focus of all 3 courses is on child loss. I'm really lucky that the college pays for me to have the author of our textbook on child loss come speak to us. She's coming Tuesday.
The lead up to her big public lecture on campus draws about 100 people from off campus. It puts a nice spotlight on our death and dying course and our departments. It's successful, and I'm grateful.
However, as the buzz spreads leading up to the big author's public lecture, people pull me aside every day more and more to confide in me. Hearing the silent grief of baby death given a voice, they voice griefs about child loss they've hidden away for years.
So I'm hearing a lot of touching, sad stories of miscarriages, stillbirths, infant deaths, and later child deaths from grief-stricken parents these days. It is a privilege to be trusted with these tender stories, but they are sad and heavy. Ironically, I myself have never been a parent.
If you have any daily strength to share between now and Tuesday, sharing this load for the next few days would be most appreciated. It's a lot to carry on my own.
This time of every semester the focus of all 3 courses is on child loss. I'm really lucky that the college pays for me to have the author of our textbook on child loss come speak to us. She's coming Tuesday.
The lead up to her big public lecture on campus draws about 100 people from off campus. It puts a nice spotlight on our death and dying course and our departments. It's successful, and I'm grateful.
However, as the buzz spreads leading up to the big author's public lecture, people pull me aside every day more and more to confide in me. Hearing the silent grief of baby death given a voice, they voice griefs about child loss they've hidden away for years.
So I'm hearing a lot of touching, sad stories of miscarriages, stillbirths, infant deaths, and later child deaths from grief-stricken parents these days. It is a privilege to be trusted with these tender stories, but they are sad and heavy. Ironically, I myself have never been a parent.
If you have any daily strength to share between now and Tuesday, sharing this load for the next few days would be most appreciated. It's a lot to carry on my own.
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Here is my new brother, copper :) He's so tiny! Moo and Tuck were ok with him on first meeting. Rocket due to his severe aggression will never meet Cooper.
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https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTDeA9Wxg/
These would be hard to hear for sure.... I would drop them in my "God Box"... There are so many things that I know that I couldn't manage myself but he can... So I'd ask for help to be a good listener, find the right words to say and for comfort for both the person who's lost a child and for myself
Perhaps other then your classes you can be more unavailable if you aren't up to a lot of this muji... Maybe be in other areas of the school for the next few days or could you take a day off if you need to?...Stress can have a big effect on us physically as you well know and you've had a lot of it lately
I used to be a public speaker for the Mood Disorder Assoc of Ontario and I would get tackled after speaking so I can hear just what you're going through
And finally I have a good friend here who's a minister and I'd never took time to think about what that calling entails... It's a very, very difficult job... often dealing with people in the throws of grief... We owe people like you such a big thank you for having the courage to do what you do.... Big hug of comfort and thank you....xo
big respect muji. you're a good soul.
Keeping the purrs and the puma power flowing....
For sure, you already know you can leave some of it here.
Gentle support.
I went out for a break in the form of dinner with friends tonight and we kept it light. I was supposed to go on a retreat tomorrow, but I decided against more introspection right now, so I canceled. For another break, a student is taking me to see a movie Saturday, too. Don't even know what the movie is and don't care, just that it's not about grief and I'm getting out and about.
By Tuesday, when the author comes and speaks, the spotlight shifts to her and I recede into the background, thankfully. So these breaks, lots of breaks from now until then are good advice. Thanks!
I might also add that if these stories are too difficult to listen to, you might mention in class something along the lines of, "This material can bring up a lot of very strong feelings for students. I'm including resources for you in case you need someone to speak with."
I don't know if that would help?
You are much cared about.
Please get ahold of something funny, because humor helps a lot...
Jim Gaffigan is a comedian with absolutely nothing serious to say, for instance. Or watch Airplane! again...
"Funny, Ted never vomits at home..."
A relaxing weekend sounds awesome:-)
Maybe fill your home with a cooking smell you enjoy? I love to just have a pot simmering with favorite herbs in it. (Or spices. Hubby doesn't like it, but I dump a tablespoon of garam masala dry spice mix into my six-quart stockpot of water, and since I love Indian food, ohhh, does that make me feel good!)
GEntle purrrrzzz and puma power....