Grief and Giggles: Yes, Both Can Coexist (Seriously.)

Grief and Giggles: Yes, Both Can Coexist (Seriously.) Let’s start with the obvious: grief sucks. It doesn’t knock politely. It doesn’t wipe its feet before barging in. It shows up uninvited, throws your emotional furniture all over the place, and eats all the snacks in your soul’s pantry. It’s rude like that.

But here’s the truth no one says out loud enough: grief isn’t just about death. It’s about loss. Of people, of pets, of jobs, marriages, health, identities, expectations, normalcy… hello, 2020 trauma flashbacks, anyone? And grief doesn’t wear a name tag. It could show up as sadness, anger, silence, insomnia, binge-watching Bridgerton for the fifth time just to feel something (no judgment, we see you).

So during this Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re not just talking about mental health like it’s a pretty little package with meditation apps and inspirational mugs. Nope—we’re dragging grief into the sunlight, giving it a name, and showing you that healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means living anyway. With a little help.

The Grief Grab Bag: What It Looks Like (Spoiler: Everything)

Grief is basically emotional improv theater. One day you're fine. Next day, you're crying in the grocery store because you saw your mom’s  favorite soup on the shelf. (Why you gotta do me like that Progresso chicken noodle?!)

You might feel numb, irritated, tired, hyper, lonely, clingy, shut-down, or weirdly giggly. Yes, giggly. Sometimes the brain just doesn’t know what to do with the emotional chaos, so it tosses in a joke to survive. That’s not disrespect. That’s adaptation. That’s survival.

And some people, bless them, don’t get that. They say things like:

• “Everything happens for a reason.”

• “At least they’re in a better place.”

• “You should be over it by now.”

If someone hits you with those, you have full permission (from us and probably the universe) to silently blink three times and say, “Wow. That’s a bold choice of words.” And then excuse yourself to go scream into a pillow. Or, better yet, laugh with someone who does get it.

You’re Not Broken, You’re Grieving

Let’s make something crystal clear: you are not weak for grieving. You are not “doing it wrong” because it’s been two weeks or two decades and you still get hit with waves of sorrow. That’s the thing about grief—it doesn’t believe in calendars.

You’re not broken, love. You’re human. And grief? Grief is the price of love. Pain is the echo of connection.

But here’s where hope steps in. Because if you can hurt that deeply, it means you’re capable of loving that deeply. And that means you are wired for healing, too.

Okay, So What Do We Do With Grief?

Well, first? We talk about it.(Not to everyone, of course. Some people deserve the Reader’s Digest version. Others get the full, messy, “I don’t even know what I feel, but I need to say it out loud” edition.)

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to navigate this alone. Whether your grief is fresh and raw, or has been riding shotgun with you for years, support exists—and no, it’s not all sad circles and whispering softly into Kleenex. There’s actually help that works.

Local Resources for Grief Support (MHRS Board Style)

📍 Grief Recovery Programs Some of our local providers offer grief-specific support groups and evidence-based programs like the Grief Recovery Method. These aren’t just venting sessions; they’re about action, reflection, and finding ways to move forward while honoring what was lost.

📍 Individual Counseling Let’s say you’re not a “group” person. That’s okay. You can see a counselor who won’t flinch when you say, “I’m grieving, and I don’t even know if I want to feel better yet.” That kind of honesty? That’s gold. And it’s welcome in therapy.

📍 School-Based Grief Support If your child is grieving, whether it’s a pet or a parent or even the loss of “normal,” there are counselors available in many of our school systems who are trained in grief and trauma support. Don’t assume kids bounce back because they look fine. They need spaces too.

📍 Online and Phone-Based Services Grief support hotlines and chat services (like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) are available 24/7. You don’t have to wait for business hours to fall apart.

📍 Faith-Based and Community Options We work with local churches and spiritual leaders who offer grief support that blends faith and healing. Sometimes what people need is hope wrapped in tradition, and that’s beautiful, too.

Want a list of what’s available in your specific county? Call the MHRS Board at 740-454-8557 or check out our grief page on the website (where you’re reading this) . Because no one should have to hunt for healing when they’re already carrying this much weight.

Let’s Normalize the Mess

Mental health is not always yoga mats and green smoothies. Sometimes it's crying in your car before work. Sometimes it’s canceling plans for the third time this week because the grief hit like a bus again. Sometimes it’s finally making that therapy call, or just not yelling at your kid even though your nerves are fried.

That’s mental health, too.

And talking about grief like it’s part of our mental health—not separate from it—is the only way we start breaking stigma. Because when we pretend grief is something we should "get over," we isolate ourselves. But when we admit it’s something we move with, we open the door for connection.

Grief isn’t a detour. It’s part of the journey. But healing? Healing is the part we get to choose.

Final Thoughts (And a Mic Drop)

So this Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s stop pretending that healing has to be tidy. Let’s laugh awkwardly. Let’s ugly cry. Let’s talk about the things we thought we couldn’t. Let’s give people space to miss who or what they lost—and to celebrate the fact that they’re still here, breathing, surviving, and maybe even smiling sometimes.

You are not too much. You are not behind. You are not alone. You are grieving, and you are growing. And you are doing better than you think.

Mental health includes your grief. Grief is messy and annoying — but it’s love, showing up in sweatpants. Make room for it.

Through it all, be kind to yourself.

J.A.M.

Resources:

• Kids: SesameStreetInCommunities.org, The Dougy Center (www.dougy.org), The Invisible String by Patrice Karst.

• Teens: Hope Squad (check local schools), Dougy.org, You Will Be Okay by Julie Stokes.

• Adults: GriefShare (www.griefshare.org), OptionB.org, local hospice support.

• Older Adults: AARP.org/griefandloss, senior centers, Healing After Loss by Martha Whitmore Hickman.