White Mourning
« I know he's still here, physically… but sometimes, I feel like I've already lost him a little. I find myself crying even though he's still alive. »
Seeing a parent, spouse or loved one lose their independence is a difficult ordeal that can bring up complex emotions. The losses that result are many and cumulative: losing a companion, giving up a driver's licence, abandoning shared projects, etc.
In this video, Chantal, a family caregiver, shares the emotional impact of watching her mother decline and their relationship change as her condition evolves. Stéphanie Ouellet, a psychosocial worker with the Groupe des aidants du Sud-Ouest (GASO), then helps demystify what white grief is : a type of grief that is not always understood or recognized by those around us.
Understanding the characteristics of white grief – which is sometimes accompanied by glimmers of hope and, at other times, by deep sadness and anger – is an important first step toward breaking the silence surrounding it.
White grief is a complex process that deserves special attention, to help us experience it more serenely.
This capsule is for you if you are a caregiver and:
Your loved one’s motor and/or cognitive losses are happening one after another and making you feel sad.
You are experiencing a sense of disorientation in your relationship with the person you care for.
You have to make difficult choices between your work responsibilities and caring for a loved one.
You feel a great deal of helplessness in the face of your loved one's decline.
Personalized Support
Between the Waves … it’s more than an online program! The South-West Caregivers Group (GASO) is committed to making a wide range of evening services accessible to better support working caregivers.
The following services are available in the evening and free of charge:
Individual support meetings
Virtual support group (in English)
Virtual conferences
Art therapy workshops