Widows & Widowers Support Group

This community is dedicated to those who have lost a husband, wife, or partner. Anything is open for discussion here, with the hope that we can focus on grief, bereavement, life after loss, and continuing on after a great loss.

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Death & Dying
/ Widows & Widowers Support Group

Grieve Support Group

praised
praised
I have been attending a grief support group since March. I had been with a previous group, but it was not a good fit. I was so elated with this group. It was a love fest and they will soon be celebrating one year with a pot luck brunch. I feel I have progressed enough not to continue attending, but the facilitator always reminds me to come. I missed the last one because of a previous engagement. I feel compelled to go because she says they miss me being there, but I have moved forward. I started with Daily Strength in August 2013, two months after he passed away. Any advice?
RichnMe
RichnMe
You should do what your comfortable with. You say you feel like you don't need it anymore and you've progressed. If that's how you feel than you should do what feels right for you. I wouldn't let anyone bully you into doing something you don't want to do. I think it shows how strong you are to recognize what you need and when you need it. Hope things work out for you.
tdm71
tdm71
I tried a support group about 6 weeks after my husband passed. It was just way to emotional for me. I couldn't deal with my own pain at the time let alone everyone else's grief.Just too sad !!
However my BIL did attend a support group on a pretty regular basis for about 2 years after my SIL passed. It did help him progress as it did you. But like you he felt after a time it was maybe holding him back from moving forward so he stopped going. He did remarry about a year later and they will be celebrating their 1 year anniversary in Nov.
So I feel you should listen to your heart and not feel a obligation to keep attending if you no longer wish.
Hugs to you for becoming strong and moving forward. It is the hope of us all here on ds
Sara59
Sara59
I think you should go when you feel like it. If you want to go every other time or once in a while, you shouldn't feel pressured to go more often. You don't have to explain why you weren't there other than to say something came up and you were unable to attend.
Community LeaderShrn
Shrn
We are all individual to our grief and our needs change. I believe you recognize why you no longer feel you want to attend and make your own decision. Sharon
rebl3157
rebl3157
I like my support group right here. If I start to read someones story and I feel like its to much I can just "click and I don't have to deal with it. I agree with everyone else, if YOU feel you're strong enough the don't go. It's all about YOU now, take care of YOU!
gerald222
gerald222
My support group ran for 10 weeks. We then started to meet at each others house once a month without the facilitator when the formal group ended. We initially focused on grief but now it has evolved into a group where we share our lives with each other and cheer each other on. We recognize when one of us is having a particularly bad month and we are there for each other. We share about our trips, our family, our new hobbies and yes our challenges. We help each other face our first surgeries without our spouses, special anniversaries without our spouses, making decisions without our spouses just to name a few. Those people have become like extended family to me because we were there for each other during the rawest and most painful part of the journey. Only you can decide whether you want to stay or leave but the reality is the group has to evolve with your changing needs or yes you will outgrow them. That had been my experience.