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After the Funeral: How Do Men and Women Grieve Differently?

The pain that follows the death of a loved one takes its toll on everyone in different ways, and gender plays a role in those differences. In that sense, it can be difficult for friends and family to interpret the emotions and actions displayed by their grieving peers. Here are three ways in which men and women tend to handle grief differently:

Coping with Memories Everyone must cope with memories after a loss, and the main decision is normally how one is going to handle them. Oftentimes, women will immerse themselves in the past, doing whatever they can to keep the memories alive, even if it means delaying their own recovery. This could take the form of anything from keeping pictures of their lost loved one in prominent locations to creating a shrine. Men differ starkly from women in this sense, in that their restoration tends to take priority. They will repress memories, trying to appear stronger and much closer to recovering from their grief than they really are.

Reactions A study by Yale University researchers indicated that men are more likely than women to turn to alcoholism in the wake of a loss. After exposing a group of 27 males and 27 females to emotion-provoking imagery, the researchers found that their male subjects showed emotional responses linked to alcohol cravings. The female subjects, on the other hand, reported greater feelings of sadness and anxiety, which can potentially result in depression or anxiety disorders.

Willingness to Seek Help Women tend to be much more open about their grief after loss, actively seeking out groups and other support networks to which they can vent their feelings. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to keep their mourning private. Rather than joining groups like women, they will keep their grief pent up inside them, sometimes taking up new hobbies and activities to take their mind off the pain.

You can always depend on Chapel of the Chimes to help you handle your recent loss. We offer compassionate, funeral services to assist you at every step of the way. To set up a consultation, call (866) 475-9407.

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Learn More about Planning a Funeral Service with the Following Resources

Our team can explain the full scope of funeral planning and the benefits of planning these services ahead of time. Read these online resources to learn more about funeral planning.

• Read this article from Healthy.net to learn how to write a eulogy.
• YourTribute.com offers detailed instructions on writing a respectful eulogy.
• FuneralWise.com lists the most important elements of a memorable and meaningful eulogy.
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• This article highlights the benefits of pre-planning a funeral.
• The Federal Trade Commission offers a helpful guide to planning a funeral.  

Let the experienced funeral directors at Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward help you with the funeral planning processGive us a call at (866) 475-9407
 

Write a Beautiful Eulogy for Your Loved One's Funeral

Delivering a funeral eulogy is an honor, as it gives you the opportunity to remember a late loved one with a commemorative speech at his funeral. The process of writing and delivering a eulogy can be challenging, though, and it’s important to give yourself time to prepare:

Contact Others Before you write a eulogy, get in touch with other friends and family members—their input can give you more information about the person you are honoring. Personal stories from family members can also add more depth to a eulogy.

Keep It Personal Make sure to keep the entire eulogy focused on the passed loved one. Avoid touching on sensitive family conflicts or revealing too much personal information. Instead, keep the speech centered on honoring your loved one. This positive speech will offer a source of encouragement for grieving friends and family members.  

Take Your Time Don’t put off writing the eulogy to the last minute. Start the speech early, and consider writing multiple drafts. This will ensure that your speech is organized and memorable. Taking extra time to write the eulogy will also provide you with more chances to meet with family members and incorporate their suggestions.

Practice Practice will make your delivery sharp and help you feel confident while speaking in front of friends and family. Clear and audible delivery is important as well. If you have the time, try using a digital recorder to analyze your own speaking pattern. This process can help you eliminate repetitive phrasing from your speech.

You can count on the professionals at Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward to help you during your time of need. Our funeral directors can assist you in planning a funeral for a loved one or help you pre-plan your own funeral services. Call us at (866) 475-9407 if you have any questions about our services.

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