Hurricane Helene: Your Grief, Your Words, Our Community

When our founder posted a TikTok about grieving in the wake of Hurricane Helene, something powerful happened. The comments section turned into an impromptu grief forum - exactly what Grieve Leave is all about.

The response? It was overwhelming.

Turns out, so many of us are riding this same emotional rollercoaster. The comments painted a vivid picture of what collective grief looks like in real time. These words matter. These feelings are valid. These experiences deserve to be heard.

Let's dive into what the Grieve Leave community has been saying:

@Wendy Darling ✨💫 nailed that weird disconnect we're all feeling: "Watching everyone move on like nothing is happening is hitting me hard. I know the world can't stop, but it's just crazy the juxtaposition of it all."

It's like we're living in two different realities at once. The world keeps spinning, but for us, everything's changed.

And then there's the guilt. Oh boy, is there guilt. @Jessica Butler summed it up in just a few words: "Eastern NC, I feel helpless and guilty."

This guilt - whether it's for being spared, for grieving when not directly hit, or for not being able to do more - it's showing up in so many comments. But here's what's important to remember: your grief is not smaller just because someone else is suffering more (read that a few times if you need to.)

@L put it perfectly: "I've been feeling like this for days. I'm in Charlotte and I feel sad and guilty and then sadness again. Thank you for validating my feelings with an explanation. I have been crying since I saw the video of the flowering bridge floating away. And then I feel so guilty because people are losing so much more than a few memories."

This right here? This is the messy reality of collective grief. It's feeling devastated for your community while also feeling guilty for your own pain. But grief isn't a competition. One person's sadness doesn't diminish another's loss.

What's striking is how many are grieving for a place, a community, even if not directly impacted:

@TM shared: "I don't live there but I'm grieving a place I have always loved and feel a connection to. I can't imagine what everyone there is going through."

@Kyleigh Sage echoed this: "I grew up in Asheville and my husband and I have always wanted to move back and raise our kids there one day. I'm grieving knowing it will never be the same 💔"

This sense of connection, of shared loss, is what binds us together in times like these. It's what makes us human.

So, what do we do with all these griefy feelings? How do we move forward?

1. Name your grief: Sometimes just putting a name to it can make it feel a little lighter. It's like calling out the elephant in the room - suddenly, it doesn't seem quite so big and scary.
2. Reach out: Share your story. Listen to others. You'd be surprised how comforting a simple "me too" can be.
3. Self-care isn't optional: Meeting your own needs isn't selfish - it's necessary. Make it a priority.
4. Help if you can: Small actions can make a big difference. But remember, it's okay to have limits.
5. Be patient: Grief has its own timeline. Give yourself (and others) grace as we navigate this together.

We're all processing this disaster in our own ways. Some of us are mourning tangible losses, others are grappling with a more abstract sense of grief. But one thing's clear: we're not alone in this.

Your comments, your experiences - they matter. They show us that even in the face of something as overwhelming as Hurricane Helene, we can find connection in shared grief.

This isn't about finding a silver lining or forcing positivity. It's about acknowledging that grief is complex, ongoing, and deeply personal. There's no timeline for when you should "get over it," no right or wrong way to feel.

What we can do is continue to show up - for ourselves and for each other. Keep talking about your experiences. Keep listening to others. Keep taking care of yourself in whatever way feels right.