Grief Coloring Books
The worst nightmare of my life happened last week and I started looking for grief coloring books. Our 36 year old son suffered with PTSD from his time in Iraq. He was sent back to the United States on his second tour due to the PTSD. Several men from his unit he was Sergeant of, died after my son had been sent home with PTSD, due to a bomb. He NEVER got over that. He felt like he should have died with his men, or he could have somehow saved them. My son took his own life on January 17, 2017.
I’ve come to learn alot about honor and the Band of Brothers during all this tragedy. I’ve been coloring for a while, and a few days after we lost him, I started looking online for grief coloring books. I knew I’d find a few. I found three that looked interesting. One came in the mail yesterday. I’ve picked a page and started coloring.
Here’s what I’ve started so far:
This book was very interesting as I read the introduction by the producer of the book, Deborah S. Derman, Phd. She explains what let her to create such a book. She has experienced loss in ways that impacted her greatly. Through her loss, she became a grief counselor. She goes on to explain how to use the book and why it’s therapeutic to us coloring after a loss.
Her book is called Colors of Loss and Healing. I’ve discovered you can just pick any page in her book and start coloring. She has a word on each page which is the theme of the page. On the opposite side of the coloring page, she has an area to journal your thoughts. I started with One Day At A Time. That’s where I am right now. I’m taking One Day at a Time.
Here’s her book. I found it on Amazon. I use Amazon for many of my purchases. I don’t like crowds, and I don’t like going into stores and having to search and search for what I’m looking for only to find the store doesn’t have what I want.
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I also purchased two other grief coloring books. They should arrive today. What happens as I’ve explained in another coloring post here, is when you color, you are activating a part of your brain that allows you to experience a more calming meditative time. One thing I’ve noticed these past few days is my mind is all jumbled up, and my thoughts are racing. The mind chatter has been horrible. This has helped me calm my mind a little.
Coloring Books For Healing
As I searched for grief coloring books, I also found coloring books for healing. As I mentioned, I have two more grief loss books coming today and I look forward to experiencing those. They both seem to be a place to color and journal. I’ve been very open on Facebook about my loss. It’s been healing to write. I’ve not written to see the responses. I’ve just been raw and transparent in my journey. Writing is very therapeutic.
Bereavement and Grief
Shading The Colors of Grief and Healing
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I really understand that grief coloring books and coloring books for healing are not going to cure you or take away the pain. It’s given me a time of respite in my mind. We are all walking this journey in our own way. Time will never take away the love I have for my son. I realize this is something I will never get over. I also know times of pain will ebb and flow. I’m grateful for the grace God’s given me to be able to experience numbness and the times I’ve been able to laugh and enjoy his memory.
If you need to see a counselor, see a counselor. Take medication your doctor prescribes if you need to for a while. I’ve been diffusing essential oils too. I use essential oils as well as part of my healing journey. That’s another story though. I was blessed to go to Europe this summer and get a certification in Integrative and Aromatic Palliative care. So much time was spent on the grief process of the caregiver and those left behind. So, I’m gathering all the resources I have to be part of my healing journey.
Be blessed
Authentically Joycelynn
