Many people have difficulty adjusting to the death of a loved one. While few experience the kind of disabling grief that requires clinical assistance, many experience symptoms they wish to share with others or simply wish to have explained.
Further, a death disrupts the relationships between the survivors, and not only those relationships which focused on the deceased. Often relationships between surviving parents and children, or between siblings, must be re-adjusted.
In addition, the survivors frequently are faced with tasks and concerns that the deceased used to handle or from which they were protected, for example, paying bills or balancing bank accounts. Now these tasks must be learned and dealt with.
Thankfully there are a great many resources in our community available to assist us in these adjustments and learning processes.
Many cemeteries and funeral homes have brochures which list the resources that are available to assist their clients with the many problems they face when a death occurs, or they have access to directories that have those resources listed. Call the firm of your choice. They should be glad to assist you.
In addition, you can contact your local crisis line. The number will be in your phone book. Most crisis lines are able to refer you to the appropriate resources in your area. In the Seattle area the relevant numbers are:
King County Crisis Line: (206) 461 3222
Snohomish County Crisis Line: (425) 258 4357
Pierce County Crisis Line: (253) 272 9882
