📋 ‘The Grief Cure’ Author: How to Cope With Losing a Parent (AARP Article)

[SummerOnTheWay1]

FROM THE ARTICLE.

From therapy to AI tools to ‘deleting’ memories, Cody Delistraty reflects on the lengths one can go to to move forward.

By Laura Petrecca, AARP. Published June 25, 2024.

Like many of us, Cody Delistraty knows the heart-wrenching devastation of losing someone you love. When he was 21, his mother, Jema Delistraty, died from melanoma.

During her illness, Delistraty thought, If I can be really good in my studies, really good at athletics, just really good at something, then I could somehow save my mom. And after she died, he expanded that pressure on himself, thinking, I have to be a good griever now.

“What that meant to me, through the received wisdom of growing up in the U.S., was to keep it quiet and work hard to get to this construct of closure,” he says. “That didn’t work.”

USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE.

https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/basics/the-grief-cure/

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[Saturday 8/1/26]

Stop by when you can to "join" our group discussion about this article & topic.

Maybe READ what other members have posted.

MC @mc6844 and myself (Nicole) have left our comments.

We want to hear YOUR comments too.

Thank you,

Grief & Loss Team ‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌

[SummerOnTheWay1]

A well-written article, thank you SO MUCH AARP for publishing this article.

LOTS of helpful information but ONE section from this article REALLY HELPED ME. While I feel there is NO "cure" for grief, his suggestion (copy & paste below) really helped me TODAY. 👍

Q: You dedicate a chapter to rituals in the book. How can they help in the grieving process?

A: We would do well to think of rituals as something that can be repeated instead of just one-offs like a funeral. It’s finding ways that are meaningful to you, that connect you with that person and bring you back to your time with them. So that you know the memorial wasn’t the last of them — they’re still here, and you’re still engaging with them. For me, that’s watching my mom’s favorite movie. That’s me eating her favorite ice cream every year.

[mc6844]

I think rituals are comforting too. It's a way of caring for oneself so we don't become depleted. There's no cure for grief. Except there are ways to deal with it. Has anyone have their loved ones visit in your dreams ? Does it make you feel better? Knowing they are ok where they are can be comforting. 

[SummerOnTheWay1]

MC @mc6844 , yes and I have "mixed" feelings when they do.

Part of me is HAPPY knowing they are okay.

The other part is "crying" & wanting to be with them.

Then ADD the "tiredness" after a dream of them the night before. It is like I DIDNOT sleep.

Great question my friend!!!

Nicole 💛🤗

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➡️[*** MC @mc6844 wrote:

I think rituals are comforting too. It's a way of caring for oneself so we don't become depleted. There's no cure for grief. Except there are ways to deal with it. Has anyone have their loved ones visit in your dreams ? Does it make you feel better? Knowing they are ok where they are can be comforting. 

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