8 signs you’re not actually over your last relationship

By Joanna BartlettJanuary 6, 2020January 2, 2020 Grief recovery divorce, grief recovery, relationships

When you say, “I do,” there’s a lot packed into those two words. There are your vows, of course, whether they’re the traditional “to have and to hold,” or you wrote your own, or they come from a different lineage. You usually make a whole lot of promises in wedding vows. And (hopefully) you mean…

How to have an emotionally healthy surgery

By Joanna BartlettDecember 9, 2019December 3, 2019 Grief recovery, Personal growth grief recovery, healing, health issues

My reproductive system had been causing me significant pain for months. It was time to deal with the cause and not just the symptoms. It was time for a hysterectomy. We’d had a lot of ups and downs in our relationship together, my reproductive system and me. Periods so painful as a teenager that I…

The reasons why it hurts so much when a not-so-loved-one dies

By Joanna BartlettMarch 11, 2019March 11, 2019 Grief recovery grief recovery, grieving

When someone you have a difficult relationship with dies, it can be just as hard as the loss of someone you love.
Sounds strange? It’s true. Here’s why.

When your pet dies, what you feel is real grief

By Joanna BartlettJanuary 18, 2019January 18, 2019 Grief recovery grief recovery, grieving a pet, losing a loved one, pet loss

If there’s a loss where people feel like their emotions are swept aside and discounted, it’s when a beloved pet dies. Not only that, but we often have a host of conflicting emotions about our pet’s death and our part in it.

What to say to a grieving friend

By Joanna BartlettJanuary 12, 2019January 12, 2019 Grief recovery friendship, grief, grief recovery, loss

You’ve seen it come across your Facebook feed. A friend’s parent or in-law has just died.

A sense of loss fills you. Compassion rises up and your heart goes out to them. You wish you could make the pain better.

You likely don’t know what to say.

The causes of grief you may not have considered

By Joanna BartlettJanuary 1, 2019January 1, 2019 Grief recovery causes of grief, grief recovery, grief recovery method

Loss is part of life. We lose things all the time: our keys, our glasses, our cell phones, sometimes even our minds. But when it comes to grief, people often think mostly about two types of loss: death and divorce. Those are certainly losses – no matter how you feel about the person who’s no…

The 6 myths of grief: Give it time

By Joanna BartlettNovember 8, 2018 Grief recovery grief myths, grief recovery, recovering from loss

Some of the sayings, old wives tales and clichés we grew up with contain truth. Sometimes a kernel and sometimes a lot. They have value, especially when we can see beneath the surface. Some of them, though, they just don’t. Grief myth #6: Give it time You’ve probably heard the saying, “Time heals all wounds.”…

The 6 myths of grief: Stay busy

By Joanna BartlettOctober 23, 2018November 1, 2018 Grief recovery grief myths, grief recovery, grief recovery method, healing from loss, myths of grief

When my Mum died, very shortly after an unexpected cancer diagnosis, I took charge and got on with things. “What else am I going to do?” I thought. “Someone has to.” Grief myth #5: Stay busy I took all my available vacation time, plus a couple of extra days when my boss donated some of…

The 6 myths of grief: Be strong for others

By Joanna BartlettOctober 11, 2018October 11, 2018 Grief recovery grief myths, grief recovery

If internal strength and emotional fortitude were visible like muscles, I’d look like a bodybuilder. How about you? When I was 10, I moved from England to Barbados, a lovely little island in the Caribbean. I’d been living with my dad, step-mother, brother and baby half-sister in England and I moved to another country with…

The 6 myths of grief: Replace the loss

By Joanna BartlettSeptember 15, 2018September 12, 2018 Grief recovery grief, grief recovery, grief recovery method, loss, pet loss

Do you remember your first romantic crush or relationship? Are you still with that person? I’m not. Michael J. Fox seem to be happily married to someone else and I wholeheartedly hope it stays that way. But I was crushed when I realized it was never going to work out between me and Marty McFly….