A New Normal

 

Table of Contents

Introduction

 

Chapter 1: Making the Grief Process Work for You


Am I Normal?
Ann’s Story—Did Ann Fail Her Loved One?
Stages, Formulas, and Blueprints—BEWARE!
Grief—Friend or Foe?
No Short Cuts, No Free Passes
Tom’s Story—Did Tom Get a Free Pass?
YES to Emotions, YES to Life!


Chapter 2: Good-Bye to Your Old Normal


Letting Go of What?
A Death-Denying Culture
You Aren’t Sick, You are Grieving
Pauline’s Story—Did Grief Find Pauline at the Grocery Store?
I Wasn’t Prepared For That
A Year of Firsts
The Gift of Clarity
What Do I DO?

 

Chapter 3: Understanding Impact from Types of Loss

 

The First of Two Evils—Predictable Loss
Amy’s Story—Can a Few Words Really Be So Important?
Bumps in the Road
Mary’s Story—No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Proactive Grief Is a Thief
The “D” Word
What Do I DO When Someone I Love is Dying?
The Other Evil—Sudden Loss
Reactive Grief
What Do I DO After a Sudden Death?
Somewhere In Between
“What If” Game

 

Chapter 4: Loss by Type of Relationship

 

Parent Loss
Young Child Loss of Parent
Alice’s Story—The Dangers of Magical Thinking
Older Child Loss of Parent
Nikki’s Story—Lost in Time
Teen Loss of Parent
Adult Loss of Parent
Spouse Versus Partner Loss
Harry’s Story—Invalid and Invisible
Sibling Loss
Friend Loss
Pet Loss—A Silence So Loud

 

Chapter 5: Complications on the Way To a New Normal

 

I Quit!
It’s Raining Losses
Secondary Losses Are Sneaky
What Do Dirty Laundry and Unresolved Grief Have In Common?
Steve’s Story—The Cowboy and the Baby Chick
Closure Confusion
Chris’ Story—Closure Is In the Eye of the Beholder
Road Blocks to A New Normal - Lawsuits
A Giant Step to A New Normal—Funerals
Bereavement Groups

 

Chapter 6: Big Losses, Little Recognition

 

Breaking Up Is More Than Hard To Do
Loss Competition
Loss of Financial Well Being
Loss of Job
Loss of Career
Loss of Business
Work Now, Feel Later
Loss of Youth
Loss through Aging
Loss of Health
What Do I DO?

 

Chapter 7: Questions Answered, Myths Disspelled

 

Chapter 8: Helplessness to Resilience—The Author’s Story

 

The Background
From Helplessness
. . . To Resilience

 

Conclusion

 

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