This brief note highlights why the study matters for psychotherapists, social workers, and other mental health professionals: posttraumatic growth—especially increases in personal strength and appreciation of life—relates to better well-being after parental loss in adolescence and young adulthood. It also emphasizes the role of social context and multiple sources of support, including professional help, in fostering growth, underscoring a relational approach to bereavement care.

Article Title: Young people show posttraumatic growth after losing a parent, finding strength, meaning, and appreciation for life

Link to PsyPost Article: ift dot tt/OC7aJzE

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#PosttraumaticGrowth #ParentalLoss #BereavementSupport #YouthMentalHealth #MeaningInLife

In moving photo series, woman captures her parents waving goodbye to her for 27 years

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/leaving-and-waving-parents-photo-series-ex1

I need to remember that moving through grief is a long process.

How do you get your joy back?

I reread my old Tumblr and I was SO different before my dad's cancer diagnosis.

I feel like grief has stolen that woman from me: joyous, fearless, daring, gulping all of life down.

Leaving in her place, a more tired woman. Preserving that last spoon.

The only thing is to go through it. Stay present. Look *here* not behind.

I feel like I broke up with myself.

#grief #ParentalLoss

Dad's Celebration of Life brunch service is in 2.5 hours. I'm wearing a rainbow sequined jumpsuit.

He was gay AF, after all. Let's live our truth all the way to the end.

#Grief #ParentalLoss

#DadsLump #Grief #ParentalLoss

Picking up the last of dad's private papers from the house. So glad we set up his NOK (next of kin) box last summer/fall. His degrees, certificates are next.

I'll be at his house scheduling house clean out and his internment once we have his ashes.

We had a little too much after dinner last night so we're all hungover. This morning, over pastries and coffee, I wanted so badly to look across the table and see dad cutting his eyes in that way he had as he said something provocative and outrageous.

His absence is becoming more real to me each day.

i'm working on all the comms assets for my dad's Celebration of Life service in 2 weeks and I'm hitting a mental/productivity wall.

Also creating the schedule for the house, following up with an estate lawyer, the final business of closing the accounts once death certificates are ready, dealing with the knowledge that this memorial might be....large.

I want to tell my sister to stop talking to people, but apparently, I'm the only introvert in the family. They're all sharing with their circles and maaaaan....I need everyone to shhhhhh.

#DadsLump #Grief #ParentalLoss

#ParentalLoss #Grief #DadsLump

It's funny to see a loved one through the eyes of others.

My sister and I were humbled by the outpouring of support from a queer Black men's support group that our father joined when he came out.

We sat for a while, and they shared their impressions of our dad. We came away with a picture of a generous, wise, elder statesman. Like a gay Morgan Freeman.

Later, we sat in the car.

Sis: Did Dad totally transform into a whole other person when he was here?

Me: Seriously! We won't tell them the times we had to yell at dad for being out of pocket.

Later, a young man said that our father was the oldest Black gay man in their large and active community. That meant something for them.

I'll let them have their version of Dad. It was his best version. His most hard-won version.

#ParentalLoss #Grief #DadsLump

I wrote Dad's story (while my sister listened in and added slight -- less fun -- adjustments) yesterday.

I hate the obituaries that are just a bland litany of dates. I wanted to give a sense of the kind of man my dad was. His spiciness peeks through.

In the end, I think we did pretty good.

https://www.weremember.com/john-edwin-coleman/5x7d/memories?utm_campaign=memorial_share

Why is grief from losing a parent SUCH a fucking rollercoaster. It’s been 2 years and it still hits me like a sledgehammer out of nowhere occasionally. It’s been haaaaaard today 😔

#grief #loss #death #parentalloss #parentdeath #onlychild #sendmemes