Most support groups meet for a limited time, such as six weekly sessions. Others run continuously, and people come in and out as their emotional needs dictate. Call a hospice, counseling clinic, member of the clergy, your local Area Agency on Aging, or a hospital to find out about bereavement groups. If that does not work, check your newspaper or the human-services listings of a phone book. It often is good to talk with the leader of a group in advance to learn what is expected and how the group is conducted.
Some people attend with a family member or a friend.
If you decide to attend a support group, understand that you may feel worse when you go home after the first session. In the long run, however, this can be helpful. It also is important to realize that a support group will not restore you to the way you were before the person's death, but it will help you to cope with your new life without the deceased. People say I should be over this. I guess my pace is slower than you expected.