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Writing Through Grief: Finding Comfort in Journaling

Writing Through Grief: Finding Comfort in Journaling

by | Mar 25, 2025 | Grief, Grief & Loss

 

 

Ever since I was a young girl through writing, I’ve expressed my deepest feelings and thoughts. Journaling has been especially helpful during a prolonged season of caregiving, anticipatory grief, and navigating multiple losses.

In 2019, my parents were involved in a bad car accident, and I began assisting as one or their caregivers. My mom sustained a serious concussion, significant hearing loss, 9 broken ribs, and a crushed collarbone.

My dad hurt his back, his hearing loss intensified – and it was bad before, dementia became more noticeable than prior to the accident. Both of them suffered from the emotional trauma the accident caused.

Two months later…

 

My close aunt (my dads sister) was diagnosed with aggressive cancer and passed away within six weeks. My aunt Lois was like a best friend to me and I miss her so much!

 

Shortly after my aunt’s passing, my dad was diagnosed with cancer while already living with dementia.

 

 

 

The pandemic of 2020 further increased my caregiving responsibilities over the next few years…

 

 

In August 2022, my beloved 17 ½-year-old dog, Bella, suddenly passed away beside me. She was my constant companion and always by my side! My Bella
was a little 10 pound long haired Chihuahua with a big heart. She filled my life with her love and loyalty!

 

Soon after Bella passed away, my dad’s condition declined and he entered palliative care at home.

 

 

During those next few months, I cared for him most nights from mid evening until his PSW relieved me in the morning. In the quiet of those nights, as I watched over him while he slept, the light of my laptop screen pierced the darkness. Consumed with anticipatory grief, I knew I would soon lose my dad to lymphoma, which had also taken my aunt.

 

 

 

 

I poured my broken and weary heart into journaling my thoughts and my grief. It was so difficult watching my dad’s life fade away in front of me. In the early morning of November 12, 2022, my sister, her husband, and I were with my dad as he passed away. In the moment he took his last breath I struggled to draw my next one.

It was the moment my heart shattered and life as I knew it had forever changed!
Fresh grief entered in and consumed me like an unwelcome intruder once again. This time deeper than I’d ever felt before.

Writing about my journey with my father through life and his illness helped me cope with the loss and deep grief.

 

A year later after my dad passed, we had to put our 16-year-old Lab mix, Koda to sleep. We had Koda from age 5 1/2 weeks old. My daughter and I were to meet my mom and sister for dinner in memory of my dad on what would have been his 87th birthday.

My dad loved our goofy sweet boy Koda and it is my hope and belief they are together again. I wrote more about the experience of navigating pet loss here.

 

 

 

Since then another close Aunt and cousin passed away too. It’s been a lingering season of loss, grief, fatigue, overwhelm, emptiness, and drastic changes. I felt so broken and lost. Navigating grief while caring for my well-being was incredibly challenging.

The act of journaling helped immensely as I struggled to make sense of my life and all the heartache that came with multiple losses.

 

The Role of Journaling

 

Journaling became more than just an outlet for my grief; it was a crucial tool for self-care. Writing, sometimes multiple times a day, offered me comfort and helped me process my whirlwind of emotions.

As I wrote, I began to piece together my thoughts and untangle the emotions that felt too overwhelming to confront or share with others. I found it to be healing as I navigated my grief, losses and the different life I now live. I wrote a post called The Healing Power of Journaling you can read it here.

 

Why Journaling Helps with Grief

 

The weight of grief creates an overwhelming storm of emotions, making it challenging to navigate daily life.

 

Journaling offers a safe space to release emotions and express complex feelings.

 

Processing Grief: Writing helps us make sense of our emotions, allowing us to explore and understand our pain more deeply. Through journaling, we can confront complex feelings, identify patterns, and gain insights into our grief journey.

Self-Reflection: Journaling encourages self-awareness, leading to personal growth and resilience. Reflecting on experiences can provide valuable insights into our emotional responses.

Stress Reduction: Grief is stressful on our minds and bodies. Writing about our thoughts and feelings reduces stress and anxiety, promoting a sense of calm.

Finding Comfort: Journaling can help identify moments of hope and gratitude, shifting focus from pain to appreciation and finding comfort in the legacy of love and memories.

 

In these moments of reflection, we uncover glimpses of hope and gratitude
for the legacy of love and memories we carry close to our hearts.

 

 

Finding Comfort Through Writing

 

Life is filled with challenges and moments that weigh us down. Along the way, we lose loved ones, and it hurts. For me, journaling has been a lifeline, helping me cope with deep grief and navigate multiple losses.

If you are navigating the grief of losing a loved one — I’m sorry for your loss.

I encourage you to find a quiet space and let your thoughts flow. You may discover that journaling can be a light of hope in the darkest times.

 

 

The Healing Power of Journaling

The Healing Power of Journaling

by | Jul 19, 2024 | Grief & Loss

 

Journaling through grief offers a unique path to healing. It provides a safe and personal space to process complex emotions, reflect on our experiences, and gradually piece together the fragments of our shattered hearts. For me, journaling has been a constant companion in my life.

Over the past five years, journaling has become both a healing and transformative practice. Through writing, I’ve been able to express my deepest feelings and find a sense of healing, peace, and strength. This practice has allowed me to navigate my grief more effectively, offering a space to untangle my emotions and gain clarity during challenging times.

 

My Journey Through Grief and Loss

 

In 2019, my life took a drastic turn when my parents were involved in a severe car accident. Overnight, I became a caregiver for both my mom and dad. Just months later, my close aunt was diagnosed with aggressive cancer and passed away within six weeks. As if that wasn’t enough, my dad was diagnosed with cancer while also living with dementia.

The pandemic then intensified caregiving responsibilities and isolation. In August 2022, my 17 1/2-year-old dog Bella passed away suddenly beside me. Soon after, my dad entered palliative care at home, and I cared for him each night until he passed away on November 12, 2022.

Since then, I’ve faced more loss, including our 16-year-old Lab mix, Koda, another close aunt, and a cousin. Navigating grief and loss while attending to my well-being has been challenging, yet journaling has been a vital practice that has helped me immensely.

 

The Role of Journaling

 

Journaling became my refuge during the quiet, often lonely nights caring for my dad. With only the light of my laptop screen piercing the darkness, I poured my heart onto the pages. Writing about the pain of losing loved ones provided a glimmer of hope and strength.

Journaling was not just an outlet for my grief but a crucial tool for self-care. Writing multiple times a day offered comfort and clarity, helping me navigate the tumultuous waves of grief and find moments of peace. My journal writing helped to lighten the consuming weight of grief enabling me to feel a sense of peace.

 

 

Benefits of Journaling

 

  • Emotional Release: Journaling provides a safe space to express deep emotions, releasing pent-up feelings and reducing the intensity of grief.
  • Processing Grief: Writing helps make sense of complex emotions and find meaning amid chaos. It allows you to explore and understand your pain.
  • Self-Reflection: Journaling encourages self-awareness, leading to personal growth and resilience. Reflecting on experiences can provide valuable insights into your emotional responses.
  • Stress Reduction: Writing about thoughts and feelings reduces stress and anxiety, promoting a sense of calm. It can act as a form of meditation, helping to alleviate stress.
  • Finding Hope: Journaling can help identify moments of hope and gratitude, shifting focus from pain to appreciation. Reflecting on positive experiences fosters a sense of peace.
  • Building Resilience: Regular journaling strengthens emotional resilience. It allows you to see your progress and recognize your inner strength.

 

Life is filled with challenges and moments that weigh us down. Journaling has been my lifeline, helping me navigate deep grief and multiple losses. If you’re facing similar struggles, I encourage you to start writing. Journaling can be a powerful tool for healing and emotional well-being, offering hope and strength.

Through my journal, I found a way to process grief, honor loved ones, and heal my broken heart. It became a testament to resilience and a reminder that even in profound loss, there is a path to recovery. So, take a moment, find a quiet space, and let your thoughts flow onto the paper. As I did, you may discover that journaling can be a light of hope in the darkest times.