Grieving Family & Friends

Posted by on September 2, 2005

Grieving Family & Friends

The Penn Program for Stress Management invites people struggling with the loss of a loved one to participate in an 8-week stress management program for grieving family and friends. Stress may impact your mood (e.g., anxiety, depression, or irritability) and your physical health (sleep, appetite, exercise). The first 4 weeks will focus on relaxation, re-focusing attention, and executing very simple movements. The second 4 weeks will focus on applying mindfulness to bereavement-related concerns: loss, health, and relationships. We will discuss ways of communicating that help or hinder getting the support you want.

Goals of the Program
By the end the program, we expect participants to have a reliable stress management routine and so better be able to deal with the emotions and practical changes that result from a loss. Previous participants in this program have shown reductions in depression, anxiety, confusion, and fatigue. They have also expressed the following:

?Thank you for inviting me to this ?new world.? I am learning to fi1nd peace and contentment by centering myself.?

?It?s hard to believe that in just 2 months I could see the world differently. Because I have become more mindful I am actually experiencing life and not just getting through another day. I see beauty now. I also realize it?s important to take time for myself and how everyone involved in my life benefits.?

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate, applicants need to meet the following criteria:

? have lost a family member or close friend to death within the past 12 months.
? be medically capable of participating in the program in its entirety.
? be able to attend each of the eight classes.
? be willing to examine the complicated emotions related to grieving.

Program Requirements

Participants will be required to:
? attend eight 2-hour classes and one 7-hour workshop. The classes integrate mindfulness practice with structured group discussion.
? complete at-home practice sessions 30-45 minutes daily.
? complete weekly homework, including reading one chapter of a book (15 pages average length).
? complete evaluation questionnaires (pre, post, and follow-up)

Participation in the program is free, thanks to a grant from the van Ameringen Foundation. Each participant receives a book, binder, handouts and recordings of stress management methods on CDs to use and keep.

Classes will be held on Thursday evenings (6:30 pm to 8:30 pm) for eight weeks beginning Thursday September 29, 2005 at the UPHS Administrative Building at 3930 Chestnut Street, Level B. For more information, contact the Penn Program for Stress Management at (215) 615.2775 or stress.management@uphs.upenn.edu.