by Gary Roe | Abuse Recovery, Anxiety, Courageous Living, Emotional pain, Family relationships, Fatigue and Exhaustion, Fear, Grief recovery, Healing from the past, Healing from trauma, Loss of a Child, Loss of a friend, Loss of a parent, Loss of a sibling, loss of a spouse, Peace, Physical symptoms, Stress Management, Worry
I recently woke up in the middle of the night in a panic – sweating, heart racing. I quickly got up and began pacing. I had felt this before, many times. I was having an anxiety attack. Over the years I’ve learned that I don’t need a trigger to be...
by Gary Roe | Abuse Recovery, Death and dying, Depression, divorce recovery, Emotional pain, Faith, Fatigue and Exhaustion, Fear, Grief and Loss, Grief recovery, Healing from the past, Healing from trauma, Loss of a Child, Loss of a friend, Loss of a parent, Loss of a sibling, loss of a spouse, Purpose and meaning, Spiritual questioning, Spiritual suffering, Suffering and Pain
Life, and grief, can become a treadmill. When I was 12, I had a gerbil named Ralph. He was an interesting, good-natured, and incredibly energetic creature. Confined to a small life in a cage, Ralph ran. And he ran, and ran, and ran. Around and around in...
by Gary Roe | Anxiety, Death and dying, Faith, Fear, Grief and Loss, Healing from the past, Hospice stories, Loneliness, Peace, Physical illness, Purpose and meaning, Relationships, Stress Management, Suffering and Pain
We’re made for relationship. No wonder loss hurts. It crushes our hearts. As a hospice chaplain, I believe one of our greatest fears is feeling alone, left behind, or abandoned. I’ve felt it myself, and I’ve heard it from the hearts of hundreds of others. Steven’s...
by Gary Roe | Abuse Recovery, Death and dying, divorce recovery, Fear, Grief and Loss, Grief recovery, Guilt, Healing, Healing from the past, Healing from trauma, Holiday grief, Peace, Relationships, Suffering and Pain, Trauma recovery
Worry. Anxiety. Fear. Panic. Most of us are familiar with these things. “I’m having trouble sleeping. My mind won’t settle. I’m nervous and fidgety. I can’t concentrate,” Mary said, gently rocking back and forth. “In fact, I seem to be anxious about everything,” she...
by Gary Roe | Abuse Recovery, Courageous Living, Death and dying, Depression, divorce recovery, Emotional pain, Families and grief, Fatigue and Exhaustion, Grief and Loss, Grief recovery, Healing, Healing from the past, Healing from trauma, Hope, Loneliness, Peace, Suffering and Pain
Grieving hearts need five things to survive, grieve, and live again: We need comfort. We need safety. We need hope. We need healing. We need each other. First of all, comfort. Loss is painful. Separation hurts. Oblivious to our suffering, the world around us speeds on...
by Gary Roe | Anxiety, Courageous Living, Death and dying, Decision-making, Depression, Emotional pain, Fear, Grief and Loss, Grief recovery, Healing, Healing from the past, Healing from trauma, Honesty and Transparency, Hospice stories, Peace, Relationships, Stress Management, Suffering and Pain, Trauma recovery
I once asked a hospice patient what his favorite season was. Without hesitation, he responded, “Football season!” It’s that time of year. You can sense it. The atmosphere is permeated with that unique Friday-night-lights, Saturday-tailgating,...