It’s no wonder so many people fail to complete grief counseling sessions that are staged over a period of several weeks, with many attendees opting to bail out of such programs after just a week or two.  Why? I believe one of the reasons is because too many of the programs fail to provide a real roadmap to the healing grievers seek.  Those who grieve aren’t interested in hearing a lot of theory or advice that is short on substance. They need actionable options.  Proven steps and best practices they can employ as they begin their journey toward some semblance of a recovery.

This tendency to withdraw from what are well-intentioned resources should be of no surprise to anyone, especially when speaking about widowed men.  Yes, my view applies to women and men alike, but as an advocate for widowers, I have come to recognize how men who are suffering from the most significant loss of their lives want to act, to make their pain go away by taking concrete steps others have previously tested.  Those who fail to complete grief recovery programming are generally not interested in listening to subjective material offered by family members, friends or a subject matter experts that are weak on specifics.

I like to tell the story about my brother Don and his wife Kathy when they were traveling by airplane.  As they sat in their seats, Kathy leaned over and informed Don how the little boy seated behind her was kicking the back of her airline seat.  Being a man of action, Don looked over the top of his seat to the youngster seated behind Kathy and with a raised voice told the young man to “Knock It Off.”  Kathy then leaned over and asked Don, “What did you do that for?” Kathy went on to say how she didn’t want Don to do anything; she just wanted him to know what she was experiencing.  But like most men, Don is a fixer.  Give him a problem and his mental Rolodex of problem-solving solutions will begin rotating until the appropriate fix surfaces. It’s what men (and many women) do!

Perhaps that’s why I like plans.  Documents that will help me navigate my way until I reach my desired destination or outcome. Plans should contain both strategic and tactical steps one can initiate along life’s journey that will lessen the likelihood of their veering off course or wasting precious resources. I believe people prefer specific well researched and proven steps that will advance their agenda. When such insights are available; it can allow the reader’s recovery instincts to be stimulated, causing them to tweak the best practices of others until they conform to the reader’s comfort zone. To this end, I offer the following.

WSN (Widowers Support Network) – 15 Grief Recovery Guidelines.

Grief Recovery Rule #1 – Turn to Your Higher Power.

For those who believe in a higher power, turn to Him.  Place your grief and your future into His trusted arms.  There is no better place to be.

Grief Recovery Rule #2 – Grieve for as long as you wish. 

Grief doesn’t end. It evolves. There are no sequences or stages of grief you can anticipate occurring. So don’t let anyone tell you “It’s time to get back in the game,” or “Get over it.”  Do so when you are good and ready, not before.  If their nagging continues, find new friends.

Grief Recovery Rule #3 – Forgive yourself for any lingering regrets you may harbor.

If you were a caregiver, the spouse or the life partner of the deceased, you might have some lingering thoughts of regret.  “I should have visited more often.” “Did I find him (or her) the best care possible?” “I should have told him or her I loved them more often.” Regrets surface because deep down inside, you honestly loved that person and you weren’t certain if they truly knew it. I have some great news for you. They did. There is no need to second guess your previous actions.  You undoubtedly did the best you could under the circumstances. And you can be sure they appreciated your loving care. So when you lay your head on your pillow tonight, go ahead and tell them again, “I love you!” They’re listening.

Grief Recovery Rule #4 – Watch your health.

No matter how well anchored of a survivor or caregiver you may believe yourself to be, you are vulnerable. Now its time to take care of you! All caregivers and the widowed should be seen by their primary physician.  As part of your exam, ask your doctor for a referral to a mental health professional. You know, someone with whom you can talk. You’ve been through a lot, and you may have suffered physically, and don’t even realized it. Besides, you have others who are depending on you to recover from your grief. This caution is especially true for widowers since most men fail to take proper care of themselves, especially when they are called upon to serve as a caregiver.  Want a sampling of proof? Widowed men have a suicide rate that is 3-4x higher than married men.

For those who have lost a spouse, be advised that your loss is the #1 stressor on the stress index scale.  Regardless of how tough you think you are, the human body can only handle so much stress and just for a limited period before it can affect your health.

As I said, those who grieve are vulnerable. Here’s more proof. According to the US Census Bureau, 700,000 people are widowed each year in the United States and will live on average another 14 years.  Research has shown that if you are caring for a spouse and are between the ages of 66 and 96, you are at 66% higher risk of dying than one who is not a caregiver.  Sixty-five percent of those who are widowed (men or women) will experience a severe illness within twelve months.

Grief Recovery Rule #5 – Don’t make any hasty decisions.

Countless widowed individuals have felt a need to make changes soon after experiencing a loss.  Time and time again, they have proven why they should not have done so.  Whether you are considering moving closer to your son or daughter or downsizing your residence or even proposing marriage to a new love interest, take your time in doing so. Ask for advice from those you admire and trust.  When appropriate, talk with a licensed professional with the proper expertise and credentials, even if a fee is required to do so.  (Pssst – Be sure to check their references.) You’ll be glad you did.

Grief Recovery Rule #6 – Stay close to those you love.

Seventy-five percent of a survivor’s support base will vanish – or at the very least, be less available to the survivor following the loss of a spouse. Those who are suddenly unavailable may well include family members and friends.  The risk is that people who feel continually lonely have a 14% higher risk of premature death vs. those who don’t.  

Grief Recovery Rule #7 – Allow those who care about you to assist you in dealing with your grief.

You are not the only one who is grieving.  When friends and family tell you they want to help, make it easy for them to do so.  Have them cut your lawn, handle your grocery shopping or clean your pool for the few months. (Just kidding.) But by allowing them to serve in some way, they feel like they have contributed to the healing of all who mourn including themselves.

Grief Recovery Rule #8 – Communicate your needs or challenges.

Ask for help if you need it.  Don’t make people guess. Failing to do so may cause your critical needs to be unaddressed while trivial tasks are handled. When appropriate, communicate your needs with a subject matter expert. From financial matters to your spirituality, legal issues to mental health examinations, lean on those service providers for guidance.  Should you wish, feel free to contact my ministry, The Widower’s Support Network (WSN) for advice and mentoring, a free service WSN offers to all widowers as well as their family members.

Grief Recovery Rule #9 – Grief groups are a tremendous resource for people in need of support.

Grief groups (aka Support groups) can be very beneficial to those who grieve, so don’t shy away from using their services. (This goes for men too, especially those men who foolishly think they can go it alone.) Among the leaders in support services for those who grieve are Hospices, churches, civic groups, and more.

The sponsoring agency may have designed their program offerings themselves or may have licensed programmings, such as Walking Through Grief, (available at Walkingthroughgrief.com), GriefShare (GriefShare.org), and Soaring Spirits International (Soaringspirits.org).  The cost to attend such support groups are modest, with many are available free of charge. WSN’s first choice is Walking Through Grief programming, available in many communities across America.  You also have the option to stream and view individual programs for as little as $8. See Walkingthroughgrief.com.

Many support groups address the needs of individuals, caregivers or survivors dealing with specific diseases or ailments. For example, PanCan has support groups across America for Pancreatic Cancer sufferers.  Compassionate Friends is a terrific organization that enables families to grieve the loss of a child. By using your computer’s search engine, you can easily find support groups for virtually every kind of ailment or illness, including cancer, Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Chron’s Disease and countless others.

For those who don’t wish to attend meetings outside their home, you will find books, DVDs, and more available at the OpentoHope.com, GriefToolbox.com, and GriefDiaries.com, all excellent resources for healing videos, books and more.

Some who grieve may enjoy getting away from their current environment and enjoy a transformational journey at sea, featuring the nurturing and coaching made available from a world-class team of grief experts. Such experiences are available from Grieving Seminars at Sea on The Bereavement Cruise. The beauty of such an outing is that it gives you an opportunity to find yourself in a neutral arena, absent the trappings and triggers of everyday life and the memories you may find troubling.  To learn more, contact our office at herb@WidowersSupportNetwork.com

Grief Recovery Rule #10 – Get on your feet and out of the house.

Widowed people need to reestablish their own relevance.  It is essential to have a purpose when you rise out of bed each day.  You can accomplish this in many ways. Volunteering has been found by many to be the best grief recovery tool.  Reach out to a non-profit who supports a good cause, your church, or perform a kind gesture for someone who can’t pay you back.  Perhaps this is why I established the Widowers Support Network, as it provides me with such gratification. Besides, it gives me purpose.

Grief Recovery Rule #11 – Commemorate the life of your deceased loved one.

Perform charitable works in their name. Turn their articles of clothing into “Love Pillows” and give them to those they loved. Celebrate their birthday by joining forces with friends and family in aiding their favorite support group.

Grief Recovery Rule #12 – Never lose HOPE.  (Hope Trilogy) 

As Alexander Pope wrote, HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL. Feed your subconscious mind with healing thoughts offering reasons to have hope. View, read and listen to the lessons learned and the opinions of those who have been where you are today. To begin, all who grieve (men and women) should register at WidowersSupportNetwork.com. Once registered, request your free copy of WSN’s powerful HOPE TRILOGY, the story of three remarkable men and their mastery over adversity. Write: info@WidowersSupportNetwork.com

Grief Recovery Rule #13 – Take Care of Business

As my deceased brother, Dan taught me when I was just a teenager, “Take Care of Business First.” Failing to do so can cause significant hardship if not expense during the remainder of your grief journey.  While matters such career preservation, legal affairs, and financial wellness may not be the “first” thing you address during your journey, putting off such essential matters can cause catastrophic outcomes later.  Again, seek professional assistance when needed.

Grief Recovery Rule #14 –  Consider acquiring grief relief from a Therapy or Service Dog.

“Therapy dogs bring comfort to those in need of companionship while Service dogs have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act.”  Across America, there are many animal shelters, SPCAs, and civic, service, and charitable organizations that have programs that can assist you in learning more. A supportive pooch is worth considering.

Grief Recovery Rule #15 –  Celebrate the life of the one you have lost by living yours; they would certainly want you to do so.

No explanation needed.

Herb Knoll is an Advocate for Widowers, Professional Speaker and author of the breakout book, The Widower’s Journey.  Available at Amazon.com in paperback and all digital formats.

Email: herb@WidowersSupportNetwork.com   Web: WidowersSupportNetwork.com

Facebook: Widowers Support Network – Members Only and at Widowers Support Network