Finding your footing again

Purpose and hope can grow from this. They can't be forced.

Some people find that doing something gives them a foothold. Helping a neighbor. Rebuilding a little. Making something. Being part of the fix.

If something is pulling you toward purpose, follow it. That's real.
If you're not there yet, that's okay. It can't be rushed.
You don't have to make meaning of this. You just have to get through it.

Why this happens

Over time, many people come through a hard thing carrying something they didn't have before: closer relationships, a sense of their own strength, changed priorities, a clearer view of what matters. Researchers call this post-traumatic growth. It grows from the struggle, not from the loss itself, and it lives right alongside the grief, not instead of it. It's common, but it is not a test you have to pass. Not feeling it doesn't mean you're doing this wrong.

Helping a kid through this? See Helping Kids.

If this feels like too much, you don't have to hold it alone. Call or text 988, or text HOME to 741741, any time. If you or someone else is in danger, call 911.