Helping Families of Victims Find Peace.

Every one of us has experienced the loss of a loved one. Sometimes death occurs suddenly, as the result of an accident. While other times it takes place over a long period of time due to chronic illness or aging. Either way, there are few things more emotionally painful than losing a loved one. 

When a death occurs, family and friends are immediately bombarded with an array of emotions and a number of unfinished matters.  They suddenly feel helpless and overwhelmed, and are left with a sense of loss and grief. Although these feelings are painful and emotionally draining, they are actually healthy and normal responses. 

Grieving the loss of a loved one is a painful process, but it is the mind and body’s way of accepting the loss. It is necessary for friends and family to vent and release their emotions in order to move on with their lives. It is when a person tries to cover-up or ignore their grief that the loss ultimately causes more pain and suffering then it needs to.

In order to avoid causing additional pain, during an already difficult time, families should try to steer clear of actions that mask, or attempt to avoid resolving the grief.  These actions may include avoiding  emotions, indulging in needless activities until the point of exhaustion, using alcohol or other drugs in an attempt to feel better, and acting resentful to those who try to help. These activities attempt to deny reality during a time when it is necessary to face emotions, and move forward towards a life without the loved one.

At S.T.A.R.S. we are committed to helping families of victims. We encourage the community to participate in helping others who may need comfort during these difficult times. If you or someone you know would like to be apart of the S.T.A.R.S. network of helping individuals please see our contact page for contact information.