Description
Book Synopsis Those in the throes of grief may find this work a comforting companion. It reassures the readers that they are not alone, and provides guidance to process bereavement and to reassure that life, though different, can be fulfilling again. The book is written to support those mourning for a vast range of reasons and relationships, and includes helpful information for those close to mourners who seek to be supportive. Chapters discuss the language surrounding grief, strategies for moving forward, methods of decompression and acceptance, and how other cultures view and mourn the death of their loved ones.
Trade ReviewThe human encounter with death evokes complex and intense emotions for bereaved individuals and families. This is made all the more problematic within our society that denies death, and resists speaking openly about grief and loss. But in
We Who Grieve: Understanding Our Most Painful Emotion, Richard A. Stack delineates an intricate understanding of the complexity of grief, presented in a profoundly clear and lucid manner. Part memoir, part psychological inquiry into the nuances of the grief journey, this book is a treasure house for anyone wrestling with death and grief. You will discover in this book a viable roadmap explicating that most basic human experience that we are all destined to encounter throughout our lives."—Rabbi Simcha Raphael, Ph.D., founding director, Da'at Institute for Death Awareness, Advocacy and Training, author of
Jewish Views of the AfterlifeTable of Contents
- Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Preface
- Part I. Meeting Grief Head-On
- 1. Taking the Shovel
- 2. A History of Homeless Love
- 3. When the Sad News Hits: Fight, Flight, or Freeze
- 4. Vocabulary: The Language of Grief
- 5. Discussing Grief
- 6. Two Distinct Coping Styles
- 7. The Power of Prayer
- 8. Many Modes of Grief
- 9. Grieving in Times of Quarantine
- Part II. The ABCs of Moving Forward
- 10. Accept: Entering the Valley
- 11. Breathe
- 12. Continue Connection
- 13. Decompress
- 14. Empathize
- Part III. Pivoting to Support Others
- 15. Heart Work
- 16. Lessons Learned from Professionals
- 17. Taking Care to Care for the Caregiver
- 18. A Final Thought on Final Thoughts: An Ethical Will Is a Legacy of Love
- Part IV. How Various Cultures Comfort Their Mourners
- 19. Indigenous Australians: Humankind's Original Instincts
- 20. Death and Mourning in Japan
- 21. Chinese Views of Death
- 22. Islamic Mourning Rituals
- 23. Hindu Mourning Rituals
- Epilogue
- Bibliography
- Index
