Myth: The pain will go away faster if you ignore it.

Fact: Trying to ignore your pain or keep it from surfacing will only make it worse in the long run. For real healing, it is necessary to face your grief and actively deal with it.

Myth: Grieving should last about a year.

Fact: There is no specific time frame for grieving. How long it takes differs from person to person and that can be related to  the relationship between the bereaved and their loved one, as well as to the nature of the death.

Myth: It’s important to "be strong" in the face of loss.

Fact: Feeling sad, frightened, or lonely is a normal reaction to loss. Crying doesn’t mean you are weak. You don’t need to protect your family or friends by putting on a brave front. Showing your true feelings can help them and you.

Myth: Moving on with life means forgetting about your loss.

Fact: Moving on means you’ve accepted your loss, but that’s not the same as forgetting. You can move on with your life and keep the memory of someone or something you lost as an important part of you.