We Remember
Our annual “We Remember” episode honors all who died from metastatic breast cancer since last October and gives voice to the grief and love that endures after each death. Each name shared is a tiny marker of a full & beloved life and each one leaves behind an expansive network of loved ones. For those of us in the MBC community, the loss of our friends is particularly devastating & the cumulative losses are heavy. You are not alone in your grief. We invite you to gather with us to honor the individual lives lost in the last year, and to acknowledge and provide space for the grief we collectively feel.
Episode Notes
There are many different kinds of grief and many ways to grieve. We share these few resources as a starting place & hope you will use what resonates and dismiss what does not. Because this episode centers on the people we have lost, these resources will as well, but grief comes from many different types of loss.
Understanding (a little) more about what grief is and what effects it can have on us
What is grief? (Cleveland Clinic)
How does grief impact your body? (UCLA Health)
Theories and models of grief (Positive Psychology)
For a detailed, science-based exploration of grief, consider: The science and process of healing from grief (Huberman Lab podcast)
Selected grief resources
Grief: Taking care of yourself after a loss (Veterans Affairs) in English in Spanish
30 ideas on how to honor and remember your person (Heal Grief)
The mourner’s bill of rights (Alan D. Wolfelt, Heal Grief)
The four tasks of grieving (Psychology Today)
All there is podcast by Anderson Cooper - the episode ‘Love is what survives’ in particular may help you feel less alone in your grief
Lessons from a grief therapist (A Slight Change of Plans podcast)
Grief support communities
MBC Grieving Together: Facebook group where members can share remembrances of loved ones who died from MBC
CancerCare virtual (message board, not video) bereavement support
Many local Cancer Support Community centers offer free virtual or in-person support groups for losing a loved one to cancer. You can see if there is a program near you here
**pls note that we do not know these other organizations personally, but share them as a possible resource for you to explore:
Heal Grief has a free virtual support group program named Actively Moving Forward and there is a dedicated group for those under 30 and another for those over 30.
Compassionate Friends offers virtual and in-person support for those who have lost a child or sibling
Grief in Common offers free and for-pay support resources to those grieving the lost of a beloved person (specific groups for loss of a partner, child, parent, etc)
GriefShare is a faith-based grief support group that meets virtually or locally (specifically evangelical Christian - you can read their statement of faith here to see if it resonates)
If you know of other groups, pls share them with us!
Psychology Today has a search engine to help you find an individual therapist who focuses on grief: you can search first by location and then use filters to narrow your search by insurance, the type of therapy you are interested in (“grief” is a selection you can check), along with many other options. Pro tip: you are looking for grief to be a top focus – be wary of therapists who only include grief within a long list of topics they “specialize” in.
Music
To listen to the music played by Melva Colter https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS2tfsiNDvc7fGvDBrwVAqg
Two of the pieces in today’s podcast were composed by Scott Buckley
‘She Moved Mountains’ by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
At The End Of All Things' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
