Cover
Foreword by Tony Ryan
Introduction
Loss
There is no right or wrong way to grieve
Normal responses of care-givers
Time factors associated with bereavement
The first day
The third day
The seventh day
Four to six weeks later
The first year
Anniversaries and special dates
One year later—the anniversary of the death
Grief and the body
Physical reactions
Not eating, not sleeping
Bodily distress
Emotional reactions
Anger versus aggression
Guilt
Depression
Despair
Replacement
Back to the beginning
The immediate needs of the bereaved
Seeing the body—yes or no?
Before ‘viewing the body’
What the bereaved person needs
Permission to grieve
Retaining individuality
‘Coping’
The funeral
The context
Preparatory grief
Children and grief
Gender differences in grief
After the initial shock
Bereavement and its possible consequences
Alcohol and other drug use
Relationships
Sexuality and grief
Sexual ‘acting out’
Being supportive
The support team—family, friends, colleagues, professional carers
Supporting someone experiencing shock and denial
Supporting someone experiencing disorientation
Supporting someone experiencing anger
Supporting someone experiencing guilt
Supporting someone experiencing depression, sadness, loneliness
Accommodating loss
Beginning to reorganise life
Self-help
Self-indulgence
Diet
Writing—journal, email or letters
Distraction
Bereavement counselling
Conclusion
The impact of grief
Community education
Discussion starters
Other suggestions
Counselling resources
Further reading
About the authors
Copyright