How Private Grief Support Groups Can Help You Cope

Losing someone you love can turn your world upside down overnight, and it's easy to feel like no one else could possibly understand what you're carrying. But you are not the only one. Private online grief groups, many of them hosted on Facebook, bring together people who have stood exactly where you're standing now. These spaces give you room to share your loss and connect with others walking a similar road.

No two losses look the same, but grief itself is something everyone recognizes. It doesn't matter if your loss happened this morning or decades ago; being part of a community can still help. Whether you want to post every day or simply read in silence, groups organized around a specific kind of loss are there whenever you need them, including:

• Loss of a spouse
• Loss of a parent
• Loss of a child
• Pregnancy and infant loss

You can share a photo, write out your story, describe where you are in your grief, or just read what other members have posted. In a private group, nothing you share shows up on your own Facebook wall or in your friends' feeds; only the people inside the group can see it. What gets shared there stays there. Good groups also keep moderators involved, making sure the conversation stays respectful and supportive.

"I have to say, this group is a blessing. I can vent things here I just can't, or won't, say to my closest family and friends. I receive nothing but love and support from everyone here."

Members of groups like these understand, better than almost anyone, that grief doesn't move on a schedule and looks different for every person.

"You don't have to talk, just listen to the stories of others. You may see some of yourself in them. There is no time limit on mourning. You do it at your pace."

"I had wished for a site like this for so many years. I so badly wanted to talk about my pain and confusion. Now nineteen years later, I hope I can help someone else feel better. Thanks for adding me to the group."

"You know, until I found this group, I did not think there was anyone going through what I'm going through. I thought I was the only one. After you all accepted me in this group, I can honestly say I'm glad I'm not the only one. All of you help me, and we all help each other to carry on. It's nice to know anyone can express their feelings here."

If a group like this sounds like what you need, search Facebook for private grief support groups built around your specific loss, whether that's a spouse, a parent, a child, or a pregnancy or infant loss, and ask to join. Many are free, private, and watched over by moderators to keep them safe spaces.