Someone you love has died.  You are now faced with the difficult, but important need to mourn.  Mourning is the open expression of your thoughts and feelings regarding the death and the person who died.  It is an essential part of healing. Express your grief openly.  By sharing your grief outside yourself, healing occurs.  Ignoring your grief won't make it go away; talking about it often makes you feel better.  Find caring friends and relatives who will listen without judging.  Avoid people who are critical or who try to steal your grief from you.  You have a right to express your grief; no one has the right to take it away. You are beginning a journey that is often frightening, painful, overwhelming and sometimes lonely.  The following brochures provide many other practical suggestions to help you move toward healing in your unique grief journey. Helping Yourself Heal When Someone Dies Helping Yourself Heal When a Baby Dies Helping Yourself Heal When Your Child Dies Helping Yourself Heal When Your Spouse Dies Helping Yourself Heal When a Parent Dies Helping Yourself Heal During the Holiday Season Helping Your Family Cope When a Pet Dies Author of these Helping Series brochures, Dr. Alan Wolfelt is an internationally noted author, teacher and practicing clinical thanatologist.  He serves as Director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition and is on the faculty at the University of Colorado Medical School's Department of Family Medicine. To obtain a copy of any of these brochures, contact us 1.800.524.8389. Please visit our GriefWords Library A comprehensive resource center Coping with serious illness | Helping yourself with grief Helping others with grief