SnogBlogy

Woman's "Ball In A Box" Analogy Perfectly Explains How Grief Changes Over Time

Twitter user Lauren Herschel‏ took to the social media platform back in 2017 to percentage how her physician defined grief.

Source: Twitter

Grief is among the most complex human feelings there is. It's nearly unimaginable to explain to any individual who hasn't experienced it themselves yet. It changes from person to person, and some other folks even revel in aid with the passing of a cherished one, especially if it was after a specifically lengthy and vicious sickness. 

And grief will also conquer sicknesses like dementia. Twitter person Lauren Herschel‏ took to the social media platform back in 2017 to proportion how her physician explained grief. Her conversation with the physician happened after she was once stunned that her 92-year-old grandmother, who was once in the early levels of dementia, used to be fully mindful that Lauren's mother had passed away. 

After what has been a surprisingly okayish Christmas, I had a moment these days in SuperStore. Saw a girl who reminded me of my 92yo grandma, who even in the early levels of dementia, utterly understood that my mother died.
I believed I’d proportion the Ball in the Box analogy my Dr advised me pic.twitter.com/YfFT26ffU8

— Lauren Herschel (@LaurenHerschel) December 29, 2017

Lauren's doctor explained grief as a box with a ball inside it, along with a ache button. 

So grief is like this:
There’s a box with a ball in it. And a ache button.
And no, I am not recognized for my art skills. pic.twitter.com/XDwCCdXVkc

— Lauren Herschel (@LaurenHerschel) December 29, 2017

In the start, the ball is so large that you can't move the box with out hitting the button.

In the start, the ball is very large. You can’t transfer the box with out the ball hitting the ache button. It rattles round by itself in there and hits the button over and over. You can’t keep watch over it - it just keeps hurting. Sometimes it seems unrelenting. pic.twitter.com/Wcas2p4vab

— Lauren Herschel (@LaurenHerschel) December 29, 2017

Over time, the ball shrinks, and you can get started moving the box with out hitting the button. The ball nonetheless hits the button some times, however not up to it used to. 

Over time, the ball gets smaller. It hits the button much less and not more but when it does, it hurts simply as much. It’s higher as a result of you'll serve as everyday extra easily. But the disadvantage is that the ball randomly hits that button whilst you least expect it. pic.twitter.com/fevAttojBg

— Lauren Herschel (@LaurenHerschel) December 29, 2017

For the general public, the ball by no means goes away fully, it just helps to keep getting smaller. Lauren defined how the analogy helped her circle of relatives mourn the passing of her mother. 

I told my step dad concerning the ball in the box (with even worse footage). He now uses it to talk about how he’s feeling.
“The Ball was once really big as of late. It wouldn’t lay off the button. I am hoping it will get smaller quickly.”

Slowly it's.

— Lauren Herschel (@LaurenHerschel) December 29, 2017

The ball in the box proved widespread on Twitter, with many sharing how grief has affected them, and how Lauren's analogy summed it up lovely smartly. 

"Thanks for sharing the BALL IN THE BOX analogy," one person wrote. "My daughter died in July and we are adjusting to life without her. I know that people process grief differently & now I have a new analogy to share with my family. Currently we have different-sized balls and that's just the way it is."

"I hope you don't mind," every other added. "I kinda stole this and put it in a notebook I keep for mental health/self help stuff to refer back to. It resonates so much with me right now. Thank you for sharing."

Another commenter added:

!One thing I find superb and horrifying is that all of us must travel this trail of grief at some point in our lives. It is inescapable. All deal with it in a different way, & partially due to scenario. My 21yo sister was killed 6.Five months ago. My ball remains to be incredibly big."

"But I'm hopeful that justice for her loss of life, time and if truth be told popping out of survival mode and getting help to stand this will make it easier. Thanks for sharing. And sending you and your circle of relatives."

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pbXSramam6Ses7p6wqikaKhfmbykwM6rqmaakaG5brXNZpmosF2Wu6K4zqA%3D

Lourie Helzer

Update: 2024-05-23