The process of adults and children dealing with loss
by Vijai P. Sharma, PhD.

An e-book from Mind Publications, $4.95     Click here to purchase.

There are two million deaths in the U.S. every year.  On average, three people are left in pain to mourn the loss of a loved one.  That adds up to at least six million people, closely related to the deceased, such as a partner, a family member, a friend, every year in active bereavement. 

Unresolved grief can last many years, sometimes a lifetime.  I see people coming in after several years of the death of their loved one, still grieving, gripped by physical illnesses and emotional disorders such as chronic anxiety or depression, trying to escape by using alcohol, pain pills, or some other mood changers.  You can see how many millions of people are grieving at any given time.  Hardly anyone can reach adulthood without facing a significant loss of some sorts, childhood separation, death, divorce, relocation, and several other events that cause significant pain and sorrow.

The Brief Grief Guide takes one through the stages of grief through the loss of a partner and a child. The guide also describes the grief process through the eyes of a child and what to do and not to do.

TABLE OF CONTENTS<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Introduction....................... 4

What Is Grief?......... 4

Four Stages Of Grief..... 5

The Loss Of Partner....... 5

Numbing, The First Stage Of Grief........... 5

The Four Tasks Of Grieving 6

Yearning And Searching For The The Lost Person, The Second Stage Of Grief........... 7

The Beginning Of The Feeling Of Absence. 7

The Struggle Between Hope And Despair. 8

Efforts For Recovery And Some Form Of Contact With The Lost Person................ 9

The Experience Of Anger And Rage 9

Grief Complications And Tips For Help....... 9

The Third And Fourth Phase Of Despair And Adaptation................... 11

New roles and responsibilities...... 12

Social interaction:............ 12

Question of remarriage:............ 13

The Similarities And Differences Between The Male And The Female Survivors 13

Feelings of distress: 14

Anger and self-reproach:............. 14

Expression and control of feelings:............. 15

Work and career: 15

Remarriage:............ 16

Mourning the loss of child........................ 16

The First Few Months After The Diagnosis Is Made........ 17

Phase Of Numbing 17

Phase Of Disbelief And Attempts To Reverse The Outcome 17

The First Few Months After The Death Of The Child 19

Miscarriges, Stillbirths, And The Death Of Newborn 20

Grieving children... 22

Children mourn, too................... 22

How children cope with a loss........... 23

How young of a child can mourn 26

Children should express anger....... 28

What to do for a child who has suffered a loss........... 31

Things to avoid:.. 35

Advice for relatives and friends of the family:. 35

Signs of unresolved grief in a child........ 36

ORGANIZATIONS.................. 36

HELPFUL CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR BEREAVED CHILDREN 39

HELPFUL SUPPORT FOR BEREAVED PARENTS. 40

WHEN A SPOUSE DIES................... 40

DRUNK DRIVER VICTIMS.. 43

SURVIVORS OF HOMICIDE 43