Understanding psychology of grief & the impact of memorials

What causes people to experience the emotions associated with grief? What are the psychological processes that put someone into a state of grief? Join us as we explore key psychological implications of grief and how memorials can help process these challenges. As we dig deeper into this subject, our goal is to come out of this with a better understanding of the scary world of grief and how memorializing a loved one can help.

Grief is the term that is used to describe the intense physical and emotional reaction a person experiences after the death of a loved one. The period of grief is characterized by not only deep sadness, but also an intense yearning to be with that person. According to Holmes & Rahe,1967, the death of a loved one is believed to be the most powerful stressor in everyday life which causes substantial distress to anyone who was connected to the deceased. Another study about coping with bereavement, showed that people who are bereaved face higher risks for mental health problems which include:

• Substance abuse
• Depression
• Increased risk of suicide

Most people who go through bereavement will over time adapt to their loss and their grief, but the extremely painful period of the bereavement human experience can take many months or even years for a person to adjust to.

How psychologists can play an important role in helping the bereaved

​The majority of people who have been bereaved will not have a DSM-IV diagnosis, but they can benefit from psychologists who can help them adapt to their loss in order to go on and live a meaningful life. The model of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can provide a useful framework that can be used by clinicians to help them better understand the behaviors of bereaved people and it also provides strategies that can help individuals exert a stronger sense of control.

Furthermore, CBT-focused therapy can also help people work on their thoughts and feelings around death and grief and also help them make plans to build a new life without the deceased. This behavioral model can be applied to both clients with normal reactions to grief along with those who suffer from complicated or prolonged grief.

Understanding the unique experience of grief

​Every single person processes the emotions of grief in their own way. No two people will experience the same “road map” when it comes to working through these intense emotions.

During the first few months following the death, the bereaved are often left feeling scared and uncertain. They do not know exactly what to expect and how differently their lives are going to be. One of the most mentally challenging questions people wonder is whether or not what they are experiencing is normal. In fact, for many it can make them feel like they are going crazy. 

Part of the important role psychologists can play in the processing of grief for individuals, is that they can help provide reassurance and let the bereaved know that their emotions are completely normal. This can help provide a sense of control and facilitate the acceptance of death. 

Psychologists can also help the bereaved come up with their own ideas for memorials, tributes, or rituals that can help them find closure and feel like they have honored the memories of a loved one. 

Working through the difficult psychological components of grief

Loss, change, and control are three of the major psychological components of grief. Naturally, when someone dies, the bereaved focus on the person who died.

To work through these components, it’s important that the bereaved acknowledge their loss and express how much that person meant to them. Change is inevitable and people need to learn to navigate their new life. Part of this means they need to try new things. The concept of control is integrated throughout the grieving process. 

The popularity of cremation is increasingly on the rise worldwide. Control is exerted when the bereaved make the decision to have a loved one cremated. Once a loved one has been cremated, the question remains of what should be done with the ashes. 

Modern technology and trends have brought about some interesting and unique ways to handle the cremated ashes of a loved one. While many people will keep the ashes stored in a symbolic urn that they may display on a shelf or mantle - others are looking for more innovative and expressive ways to make a memorial from the cremains. 

Tattoos can be created that actually include the cremated ashes of a loved one. People can have some of their loved one’s ashes actually used in the creation of a record that holds some memorable songs. Scattering ashes is still a popular practice as well. 

However, there is one thing that you can do with cremated ashes that will immortalize a loved one with an object that lasts forever. A diamond.

Funeral diamonds help people find closure and celebrate the memories of a loved one

​Most of the other memorials will fade or not last forever. Authentic diamonds can be grown by extracting a pure carbon sample from the cremated ashes of a loved one. By doing this, you are immortalizing a loved one by having their carbon turned into a diamond, which is forever. Have this diamond set into a piece of jewelry, and it becomes a treasured heirloom that can be passed down from generation to generation. 

This also serves as a brilliant way to give the bereaved closure. Having a physical piece of the deceased transformed into a diamond allows them to hold them close forever. This also allows them to demonstrate the deep love and emotions they hold for that person and put that on display. They are able to exert control over the selection of a tribute that best represents their personality and memory.

How much does a cremation diamond cost?

When someone first looks into the idea of having their loved one’s ashes turned to diamonds, naturally the first question that is one their mind is:

“How much does it cost to have cremated ashes turned into a diamond?”

Just as every individual is unique, so is every single cremation diamond and the cost that it takes to have it made. At Heart in Diamond, there are various prices for cremation diamonds that start as low as $750. The two main factors that will determine the price of a cremation diamond are the size and color of the gem. There are five different colors offered by HID, including:

1. Clear
2. Blue
3. Ruby red
4. Orange-yellow
5. Yellow-green

Ordering a custom cremation diamond is easy

The first step is to choose the type of diamond you want. Things like cut, color, and carat size will need to be decided on before moving onto the selection of jewelry. If you want to have a set of cremation diamond earrings made, this will also need to be considered and there are options for ordering sets of mini-diamonds.

Once you’ve selected what you want to go with, you can use the easy online form to order your diamond. A HID service representative will be available to you to answer any questions you may have along the way. The official order form for completion and submission will be emailed to you. You will also receive a personal collection kit for your sample.