Support
Questions about grieving in community, joining a circle, or what membership pays for. If your question isn't here, ask it at the bottom — a person answers, usually within a couple of days.
This is not a crisis line. If today feels unsafe, call or text 988 (US) or your local emergency number.
Grief and the circles
What actually happens in a circle?
A circle is a quiet, written space for one kind of loss — a parent, a child, a partner, a friend, a marriage, a job, a body that changed. People write what the day was like, and others answer with “me too.” There is no schedule to keep and no assignment to complete.
Is this therapy or counseling?
No. Nobody here will diagnose you, assign you a stage, or tell you where you should be by now. This is peer support: people who are grieving sitting beside people who are grieving. Many members also see a therapist, and we think that's a good pairing.
How long after a loss should I join?
There's no right moment. Some people arrive the week of the funeral, some arrive eleven years later because an anniversary knocked them over. Both belong.
Do I have to post anything?
No. Reading quietly is a real way to be here. Some members read for months before writing a word, and that's still company.
What is the “me too” button?
It's our version of a like, and it means one thing: I have felt that too. It's a way to tell someone they aren't strange or alone without having to find perfect words.
Can I grieve something that isn't a death?
Yes. We have circles for divorce and separation, the end of a relationship, job loss and career setbacks, and changes in weight and body. Loss is loss, and it deserves company either way.
What if I'm in crisis right now?
Please reach a crisis line first — in the US call or text 988, or use your local emergency number. This community is company for the long walk, not emergency care.
Membership and billing
Does it cost money to grieve here?
No. Joining, reading, posting, replying and being matched with a shoulder are all free. Nobody is ever priced out of company.
Then what is membership for?
Membership keeps the lights on and the moderation human. Supporting members pay $9 a month and Sustaining members pay $25 a month, and that money pays for hosting, safety review and keeping the free side free.
What do supporters get?
A small heart badge beside your name, so the community can see who's holding the roof up. It isn't a status tier and it doesn't unlock a better version of grief.
Can I cancel?
Any time, from your account. Your membership stays active until the end of the period you already paid for, and your posts and circles stay exactly as they are.
How is my payment handled?
Through Stripe. Card numbers never touch our servers, and we only store which plan you're on and whether it's active.
Who can see what I write?
Circle posts are visible to signed-in members only, never to search engines. Your journal is private to you. You choose your display name, and it doesn't have to be your legal one.
See the full breakdown on the membership page, or browse free reading in the library.