But talking through grief with those going through similar situations can help you get on the path toward healing.
The site offers forums where members can read and post messages at any time of day or night.
While there are moderators on the site, the group is not run by a mental health professional.
Grieving.com
In addition to forums, the site also features circles, where members can connect on very specific topics.
One such circle is called Death Row Families.
Discussion posts are open to the public.
Grief in Common
However, individuals can only see 15 pages of content prior to becoming a member.
Once users hit the page limit, pages are blocked until they have signed up for the service.
Grieving.com also offers a marketplace where they share products and services that can help with healing.
Hope Again
Their website states that everyone is welcome to join their forums.
Grieving.com is free for its members and relies on donations to help keep it that way.
To sign up, create a profile that outlines the circumstances surrounding your loss.
Online Grief Support
Then, join a chat room to search for people who have undergone similar experiences.
The fee to participate is around $1 a month or about $10 a year.
They report that their fee covers the cost of hosting the site and eliminates the need for ads.
FatCamera / Getty Images
Chat room conversations are open to anyone who becomes a member.
It offers resources for parents or adults who are trying to support a young person who is grieving.
The website caters mostly to teens and young adults.
The site offers user-generated video blogs, or vlogs.
Site users can watch videos of people sharing how they coped when someone they love died.
People can also contribute by creating their own vlogs.
Videos will become public to anyone using the internet.
And they might find that sharing their own story helps them heal as well.
Their communities offer opportunities for users to share stories and connect with others who understand loss.
They may feel safer expressing themselves when they know a grief counselor will be reading each message.
The website offers many helpful links and resources, as well.
With more than 14,000 members, Online Grief Supports community guidelines are clear that they do not tolerate spam.
But, it’s important to note that the conversations in the forum are open to the public.
They recommend that users use nicknames as opposed to their real names when chatting.
If you would like to remain anonymous, closed online groups also offer more privacy than in-person groups.
The group you choose will ultimately depend on your personal needs.
Most in-person support groups meet on a regular schedule, maybe once a week or once a month.
Online support groups usually allow members to communicate electronically at any time via forums or chats.
How Do Discussion Forums Work?
Many online support groups consist of forums.
Who Should Attend a Grief Support Group?
Anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one may find a grief support group helpful.
Some communities offer specific forums or opportunities for those who have lost a pet.
How Do I Know Which Website is Best for Me?
Individuals should consider their preferred method of communication.
Are emails ideal, or would a forum be better?
Also, consider whether a large or small community is ideal.
It really depends on how well people might want to get to know other members.
Does It Cost Anything to Join a Grief Group?
Most groups are free.
Some of them charge a small fee that helps them maintain their operating costs.
When Should I See a Mental Health Professional?
Methodology
We assessed some of the most popular online grief support groups and discussion forums.
We looked for communities that were active, offered a variety of resources, and supported their members.
We wanted to provide a list of groups that could meet a variety of grief-related needs.
Wetherell JL.Complicated grief therapy as a new treatment approach.Dialogues Clin Neurosci.
2012;14(2):159-166. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2012.14.2/jwetherell
