Time Heals All Wounds - One of the Myths About Grief
A common expression, most often intended as an attempt to care, to offer comfort or hope to the grieved. But in reality, it can instead feel dismissive, confusing, or frustrating. Because, as those who have grieved can tell you, days, weeks, and months can go by and the pain doesn’t seem to fade, or '“heal” in the way that the slogan suggests.
Time doesn’t heal. BUt, what happens within that time can lead to healing. Perhaps you develop healthy coping strategies, you grow in your resilience, or you find a new purpose or meaning from the loss that you expeirenced. The sharpness of the grief softens, but it doesn’t vanish.
Grief left un-dealt with can act like an unattended wound. It will fester, rot, and never fully heal leading to deeper issues, problems, or even irreversible damage. But, with care, cleaning, treatment, rest, and intentionality the body/mind/heart can recover - healing is possible.
Healthy Approaches to Grief
Allow yourself to grieve at your own pace.
Seek community/connection with people that love and care for you.
Create meaning. (memory-keeping, acts of service in honor of a loved one, or resolving to live differently (in a positive sense) because of the loss you experienced.
Practice self-care. (rest, nutrition, exercise are vital for healing grief).
Time doesn’t heal grief/pain on its own. What brings healing is the gentle, intentional work of processing grief, living with it - often with the support of others. Over time, your relationship with the loss changes, but the love and meaning remains.
