Online Grief Support Options

Grief often involves feelings of anguish and yearning that are typically experienced after a significant loss. Although many people tend to isolate themselves during times of grief, support from others can be helpful during these challenging periods of life. Online support groups and resources such as My Grief Angels, Grief In Common, and Grief Anonymous may be beneficial to those moving through the stages of grief. Online therapy may be another effective option for online grief support.

The Definition Of Grief

The American Psychological Association defines grief in the following way: “the anguish experienced after significant loss, usually the death of a beloved person.

Grief often includes physiological distress, separation anxiety, confusion, yearning, obsessive dwelling on the past, and apprehension about the future.”

The APA goes on to say that intense grief can cause serious physical and mental health concerns, such as immune system disruption and suicidal thoughts.*

*If you or someone you love is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please know that help is available. You can contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7 by dialing 988. You can also chat online with someone at the lifeline by visiting 988Lifeline.org.

Even though grief can feel like a strong and even debilitating emotion, nearly everyone experiences grief when they lose someone who was important to them.

Why Some People Isolate Themselves During Times Of Grief

There can be many reasons why some people isolate themselves throughout the grieving process.

• If you’re experiencing grief, you may feel like there is no one around who can relate to what you are experiencing or that no one can make you feel better.
• It could be that you’ve learned unhelpful myths about managing grief and feel like you must stick to coping methods that aren't helping.
• You might also feel pressure from other people to cheer up, be positive, or not talk about your loss when that is what you really need to do. This may make it seem like the better choice is to isolate yourself instead.
• Although people usually have good intentions when comforting others, the advice and suggestions given to you may ring hollow or feel unnatural. This can contribute to you wanting to be alone.

As much as you may think you need to be alone during the grieving process, it’s possible that companionship is what you need to help you get through this difficult time. There may be several online grief support options available that may help you through your healing journey.

How Can Online Grief Support Help?

If you are experiencing feelings related to loss, you might consider joining a bereavement group or online grief support group. Online groups can be an effective way to get support if you are experiencing the loss of a loved one. Many of them may be structured similarly to in-person groups, with the only difference being that you can participate in an online community instead of an in-person group.

Online support groups typically consist of one or more mental health professionals (such as a grief counselor) who aim to guide participants through their grief. Participants can usually discuss their grief in a supportive space with others who know what they are going through.

Other groups may primarily be social media groups, such as grief-related Facebook groups or Subreddits.

Furthermore, grief support groups may serve specific groups or a specific type of loss. For example, you may find groups that cater to young people who have lost a family and other groups that specifically help those who have lost pets. If you just want a support group that offers online support for all kinds of grief, you’re likely to find plenty of those as well.

My Grief Angels

My Grief Angels may be a helpful option if you’re in search of general grief support. My Grief Angels is a nonprofit created after its founders experienced grief themselves and looked for support. The nonprofit offers many resources for those who are grieving, including online grief support groups, online forums, directories, surveys, and educational content in the form of courses and books.

Grief In Common

While not a completely free resource, Grief In Common offers several options for individuals who are grieving to receive support. Grief In Common offers support groups in which participants meet via Zoom for $20 per session. These are for individuals experiencing all types of loss. You can also try individualized coaching for people who are grieving. The coaching starts with a free 15-minute consultation, and then you can pay for individual audio or video sessions if you choose. 

Finally, Grief In Common operates a live chat room where you can connect with others experiencing loss. You can join for $9.99 per year or $0.99 per month. In addition, you can use resources, forums, and tribute pages for free. 

Grief Anonymous

Another potentially helpful online grief support group is Grief Anonymous. This group is similar to other anonymous groups (like Alcoholics Anonymous) in that it is structured with 12 steps.

What Recovery From Grief Can Look Like

During times of grief, it may help to remain connected with others in your life who can support you through your challenging periods. It can also help to reach a state of acceptance regarding your feelings and thoughts about your lost loved one.

Through grief recovery work, you may find yourself appreciating the people and the small moments of your life more as you connect to them in an intentional way.

You may find that memories of the loved ones you have lost still hurt sometimes, but you can also remember them with laughter and joy again. When you grieve someone, you may not necessarily be saying goodbye to them and the memories you created together. Instead, you may be saying goodbye to the pain of their absence and the hurts from your relationship that you feel you did not get to repair.

Sometimes, we can feel like there are things, even apologies, that we never got to say to someone. Other times, we may not have had a chance to hear our loved one say things that were important for us to hear.

You may reach the end of your healing journey once you feel a sense of acceptance regarding these difficulties.

The Importance Of Healthy Coping Skills

Some of the ways that people attempt to handle grief can lead to additional problems. For instance, using various substances to numb your feelings may make it harder to heal in many cases. It can be common to employ unhealthy behaviors to temporarily distract yourself or relieve pain, but it is often more helpful to reach out for help and learn evidence-based strategies for handling grief.

Online Therapy May Help You Cope With Loss

Aside from various online grief support groups, online therapy can be another source of support that you can reach from home. Research shows that online therapy is effective for a variety of mental health challenges, including grief and bereavement. In one meta-analysis published in JMIR Mental Health, researchers found that online grief counseling was effective for grief, depression, and post-traumatic stress. 

Online therapists can often provide grief counseling techniques to help you cope with any feelings of anguish and yearning. With BetterHelp you can generally be matched with a licensed therapist in 24-48 hours. A brief questionnaire is usually all it takes to be matched with a therapist who is ready to provide the help you deserve while you’re grieving.

With BetterHelp, you can connect with a licensed therapist via audio or video chat at a time that works for you. If you have questions or concerns in between sessions, you can contact your therapist at any time via in-app messaging, and they’ll get back to you as soon as they can.