Grief is a deeply personal and often misunderstood experience. When we lose a loved one, we’re not just mourning their absence; we’re also navigating a world that often doesn’t know how to talk about loss. Along the way, we encounter well-meaning advice, cultural expectations, and internalized beliefs that can make the journey even harder.

Many of these beliefs are myths about grief—widely held but false ideas that can leave us feeling isolated, ashamed, or “wrong” for grieving the way we do. 

At Tillery Compassionate Care, we understand that there is no one “right” way to grieve. It is a highly individualized situation, and we will offer our unwavering support for you during this difficult time. We invite you to contact us to learn more. 

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common myths about grief and why they simply aren’t true.

10 Common Myths About Grief

Ask yourself: Have I ever believed any of these?

1. People with strong faith don’t grieve. Faith can be a source of comfort, but it doesn’t erase sorrow. Even the most devout feel the ache of loss.
2. A strong person shouldn’t show emotion. Strength isn’t about suppressing feelings—it’s about facing them with honesty and courage.
3. You should be “back to normal” in 2–3 months. Grief has no timeline. Healing takes as long as it takes.
4. Expressing intense feelings means you’re out of control. Emotions are a natural part of grief, not a sign of weakness or instability.
5. Crying is a sign of weakness. Crying is a human response to pain. It’s not weakness—it’s release.
6. Grief gets easier as you grow older. Experience doesn’t make loss hurt less. Every relationship is unique, and so is every grief.
7. The depth of grief shows how much you loved them. Love isn’t measured by how long or how deeply you grieve. Everyone processes loss differently.
8. Resolving grief means forgetting and moving on. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means learning to carry love forward in a new way.
9. Talking about the person who died makes the pain worse. Remembering and sharing stories can be healing. Silence often deepens the pain.
10. Grief follows predictable, orderly stages. Grief is messy, nonlinear, and deeply personal. There’s no “right” way to grieve.

Let Go of the Myths, Embrace the Truth

Grief is hard enough without the added burden of unrealistic expectations or guilt-inducing misconceptions. If you’ve heard—or believed in these myths, know this: you are not alone, and you are not doing it wrong.

We Offer Grief Counseling, Support and Compassion When You Need It Most

Tillery Compassionate Care provides counseling support to our patients’ families and any person who is coping with grief after a death-related loss in Stanly & Montgomery Counties and the surrounding region. All our counseling services are provided at no charge.

Tillery Compassionate Care offers One-on-one sessions individually tailored to your grief journey. These sessions will provide you with a better understanding of your grief and support your healing. 

Counseling is available to adults, children, and teens. 

Ladies Luncheon and Grief Support Dinner Group are offered monthly. 

Many other events are offered throughout the year, including book clubs, movie groups, coping with the holidays, angel tree lighting, and more.

Call our office to learn more 704-983-4216.