Haitian Earthquake: Recovery after Loss of Loved One

Like the people of Haiti, trust that you will recover after the loss of your loved one. You can increase your capacity to be resilient. It's not easy to maintain a sense of optimism under these circumstances, but you can thrive in the face of adversity. Call on your faith or spirituality. Develop strategies to manage stress and release tension through relaxation exercises. You may find that you have deeper reserves of courage than you realize.

Thankfully, the world continues to respond to the havoc the Haitian earthquake has created - even a group of homeless people in Philadelphia donated goods to the homeless of Haiti. Although children still cry for missing parents, orphans are joining their new families in the United States, doctors are delivering babies and volunteers are doing the best they can in difficult circumstances.

Paraphrasing former President Bill Clinton, in order for the recovery in Haiti to continue, we need to stay involved in the long run. Take his advice about your own recovery. Practice giving back and you'll continue to heal as you honor your memories. Give back to the community by volunteering for a cause that was important to your loved one. Find your spirit of idealism - reach out to someone who is alone or make a contribution to those less fortunate. Blessings can come out of tragedies. Change society for the better and you'll gradually transform yourself.


Log on anytime tomorrow - we'll be featuring Jed Diamond, Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on our monthly Virtual Book Tour. Read our interview about Jed's book, "The Irritable Male Syndrome: Managing the 4 Key Causes of Depression and Aggression," and then comment or ask your own questions. Looking forward to having you join us.