Coping With The Loss Of a Parent
- TV personality and ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ star Denise Richards, 53, has changed up her hairstyle and hair color with an impressive new look—which fans are admiring.
- We’re happy to see the 53-year-old mom of three, who was Charlie Sheen former wife and is now married to Aaron Phypers, thriving with a new hairdo, 16 years after her mom Jodi passed away from kidney cancer.
- Dealing with the loss of a loved one to cancer is incredibly challenging, but moving forward with the lessons your loved one shared and remembering you don’t have to forget them can be a great place to start.
- Grief is defined as the devastation that occurs when we lose someone. The five stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These labels help us frame and identify what we may be feeling.
The 53-year-old mom of three, who was Charlie Sheen former wife and is now married to Aaron Phypers, now has voluminous curly brown hair instead of her usual straight or wavy blonde hair.
Read MoreRichards shared an Instagram post on her social media page from @BravoWWHL, with the captioned, “Denise Richards and Sonja Morgan reenact the iconic #RHOBH upside down jacket scene! #WWHL.”View this post on Instagram
In the footage, Richards is seen making fun of a “Real Housewives” episode where she was told she was wearing her coat upside-down, which she was.
Fans were in awe with Richards’ new look, with one commenting, “Ok Denise w[with] this hair is [fire],” while others responded with the clapping hands emojis.
Another wrote, “Denise has been killing her looks lately okayyy.”
“Denise’s new stylist deserves a raise! She hasn’t looked this good in 20 yrs,” wrote a third fan.
In a second video clip, shared by @BravoWWHL on Instagram, Richards shows off the light pink colored fuzzy jacket that she wore upside down at an “RHOBH” season 13 dinner party, which took place at Kyle Richards’ house.
As Richards is seen in the iconic jacket, Cohen said, “Oh my God! You gotta stand up. Is it upside down? I gotta tell you something, I can see how you made the mistake.
View this post on Instagram
“I absolutely love that! This is amazing. I absolutely love it! I love you for wearing that tonight. You made my night!
Regardless of the comical incident where Richards mistakenly put her coat on wrong, the actress’s recent interview—featuring her luscious curly hair, styled half-up, half-down—shows us she’s moving on from a recent mistake and moving forward with positivity and laughter.
It’s great to see Richards thriving just weeks after her birthday on February 17, when she turned 53, and 16 years after losing her mom to cancer.
View this post on Instagram
Losing Her Mom To Kidney Cancer
Denise Richards’ her mom passed from kidney cancer in November 2007. Richards, known for her iconic role as a Bond woman in 1999’s “The World is Not Enough,” often opens her heart to her fans and followers on social media as she continues to cope with grief after losing her beloved mom Joni.
Joni passed away after a “long battle with cancer” in Long Beach, California, surrounded by friends and family, Richards’ representative Jill Fritzo revealed at the time. She was just 54 years old.
Richards wrote alongside a sweet family photo shared on Instagram a couple of months ago, “One of my favorite pictures of my mom. She loved being Nana more than anything. We lost her Nov 30 2007 I can’t believe it’s been 16yrs.
“Not a day goes by mom that I don’t think about you. I miss you so much and see you in my dreams. I so wish you were still here. I love you mom.”
View this post on Instagram
Last year, Richards shared another sweet photo of her late mom, captioning the post, “Mom how much I miss you. I love you so so much & not a day goes by that we don’t think about you. We all miss you & we know that you are always watching over us.
“Oh what I would give to sit & chat & hug you. I love you so much mama #rockofourfamily #mom …. one of my favorite pictures of my mom.
She concluded, “She loved being a grandma (nana) xx Today is the anniversary of my mom passing.”
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Richards often shares throwback photos and is open about how much she misses her mom. Back in 2020, the TV personality shared a childhood photo of her and her sister, writing, “I can’t thank all of you enough for your birthday messages to me yesterday. Meant so much.
“My sister posted this of us (I’m on the left) & made me think of my parents, my mom especially. We lost her to cancer over 10 years ago, birthdays are bittersweet without her. No matter where I was in the World or what I was doing she always made them special.”
“I still get a bit weepy on mine because I miss her so much but I’m so blessed to have my amazing family,” she continued. “My daughters made it very special and my adoring husband. All my friends I thank you for your birthday wishes & of course my loyal fans & followers. Without you, I wouldn’t have a job that I love so much. Thank you. love all of you ”
How to Cope After Losing a Loved One to Cancer
Denise Richards turned to her family and social media to help her cope with her moms passing. SurvivorNet wants you to know everyone grieves differently.
Grief is defined as the devastation that occurs when we lose someone. Grieving comes in five stages, commonly referred to as the “five stages of grief.”
The stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These labels help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. These stages can occur in any order.
As you find yourself experiencing some of these stages, remember that the emotions you are feeling are meaningful but also temporary. If you approach them with compassion, kindness, and eventual acceptance, you will return from this period with a renewed sense of resilience and purpose.
It’s unclear how long Denise went through the stages of grief, but one thing is for sure, she looks more confident than ever with her new hairstyle and she appears to be living live to the fullest.
WATCH: Managing the stages of grief.
“Grief comes in waves,” says Dr. Scott Irwin, a psychiatrist and Director of Supportive Care Services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
“They’re grieving the change in their life; the future they had imagined is now different.”
Some days can be more challenging than others, but Dr. Irwin says talk therapy can be helpful. It’s important to reach out to your doctor, a therapist, or support groups in your community for the help you need.
Dealing With Fear Amid Loss or a Diagnosis
It’s important to remember that anxiety and fear are totally normal reactions to the news of cancer, or the loss of a loved one, and acknowledging these emotions can be therapeutic and important to the healing process.
“I think the most important advice I would give to someone who has just received a cancer diagnosis is to find people whom they find as a source of support. To allow themselves to go through all of the different emotional reactions to that news,” said Dr. Susan Parsons, Director of the Center for Health Solutions/Center on Child and Family Outcomes at Tufts Medical Center, in a prior interview with SurvivorNet.
Fear, Anger, Anxiety You’re Entitled To Your Emotions
“The anger, the frustration, the fear. The disappointment. Whatever those emotions are, figure out what’s important to you and find those people that can help you realize that,” Dr. Parsons explained.
In times of frustration, it can be useful to a little bit of direction on specific ways to deal with it. A few of the most common ways to deal with fear and anxiety after a cancer diagnosis, that have helped people in the SurvivorNet community in the past, include:
1. Let your family and close friends know and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
2. Keep a journal. It can be extremely cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a nice journal and chronicle your different thoughts throughout the day.
3. Join a cancer support group. There are groups in nearly every community offering opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn incredibly helpful insight from others who can tell you about what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
4. Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.
Coping With a Loved One’s Cancer Diagnosis: Prioritizing Your Mental Health
When a loved one is diagnosed with cancer and you suddenly find yourself filling the role of a caregiver, the lifestyle change can be jarring. Caregivers are often spouses, partners, adult children, parents, or trusted friends of the person living with cancer. Many people welcome the role of caregiver and the opportunity to help out someone they care about deeply, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Filling a caregiver role can be extremely stressful and caregivers often neglect their own needs, which can create a host of additional problems.
RELATED: Check Out SurvivorNet’s Resources on Mental Health
So what can caregivers do to make sure they are healthy, both mentally and physically, as well? We spoke to doctors, patient advocates, spiritual leaders, and caregivers who have been through cancer with someone they love dearly to round up some of the best advice.
‘Disenchanted’ Star and Passionate Cancer Advocate Patrick Dempsey’s Critical Advice for Caregivers: ‘Take Care of Yourself’
And if you need help with finances, we provide resources you can consider to cope with the cancer bills. If your loved one has just been diagnosed and you are just starting your journey as a caregiver, here are the first steps you should take.
Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik discusses how people respond to stressors in different ways.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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