I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye Companion Workbook : Surviving, Coping and Healing after the Sudden Death of a Loved One

by Noel, Brook

• ISBN13: 9781891400506
• ISBN10: 1891400509
• Edition: Workbook
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-05-01
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Inc

Summary

A workbook of healing and hope... Based on the bestselling book I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye: surviving, coping and healing after the sudden death of a loved one, this workbook offers step-by-step support and encouragement through the grief journey. Now there is a hand to hold... Each year about eight million Americans suffer the death of a close family member. The list of high visibility disasters, human suffering and sudden loss in long and will continue to grow. From TWA Flight 800 to Egypt Air 990, from Oklahoma City to Columbine, daily we face incomprehensible loss. Outside the publicized tragedies there are many families and individuals that are suffering behind closed doors in our neighborhoods, in our own homes, in hospital waiting rooms. Now for those who face the challenges of sudden death, there is a hand to hold written by two women who have experience sidden loss. In a book that will touch, comfort, uplift and console, authors Brook Nowl and Pamela D. Blair, Ph.D. explore sudden death and its role in the cycle of life. Tapping the personal histories of both authors and numerous interviews, I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye shows grieving readers how to endure, survive and grow from the pain and turmoil surrounding human loss. For survivors this valuable book provides a rock-steady anchor from which to weather the storm of pain and begin to rebuild their lives.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE OUR STORIES
1. Pam's Story
4. Brook's Story
CHAPTER TWO THE FIRST FEW WEEKS
7. Treat Yourself As If You Were In Intensive Care
8. Your Immediate Needs
10. A Checklist of Calls to Make
11. Who Needs to be Notified
12. Call Log
13. Delivering a Eulogy
17. The Memorial Service
19. The Power of Friends
20. A Guide for Helping others with Grief
CHAPTER THREE DIFFICULT EMOTIONS
23. The "if-only" Mind Game
23. Anger
26. Screaming Exercise
27. Fear
28. Depression, or is it appropriate sadness?
29. Calming Exercises
30. Multiple Grief
32. Grief Sessions
33. Coping with Guilt
36. Self-Check
CHARIER FOUR MAKING SENSE OF THE W0RLD AROUND YOU
39. Loss of Purpose
40. When Faith is Shattered
42. Writing a Prayer
43. Learning through Loss
44. What I've Learned Along the Way
45. What My Loved One Has Left Me
46. Redefining Ourselves
47. Thank You Exercise
49. Thank You Letter
50. Seeking Meaning
53. Defining Priorities
56. Finding a Beginning, Middle and End
CHAPTER FIVE GRIEF BLOCKS
61. I Don't Want to Talk About It
62. Acknowledgement
63. Help I'm Stuck on Instant Replay
64. Self-Judgment
65. I Feel So Guilty
66. Hurtful Self Talk
67. Reprogramming Self Talk
CHAPTER SIX HELPING OUR CHILDREN COPE WITH GRIEF
67. Private Grieving
69. Unhealthy Anger
69. Sexual Activity in Older Children
69. Guilty Feelings
69. Physical Outbursts
70. Suicidal Thoughts
70. Love and Support
71. General Guidelines for Helping Children
72. Tips for Older Children
CHAPTER SEVEN SPECIAL OCCASIONS AND CHALLENGES
73. Anniversaries
74. Rituals
76. Holidays
78. Holiday Traditions
CHAPTER EIGHT ADDITIONAL EXERCISES FOR YOUR JOURNEY
80. Internalizing Your Loved One
81. Ideas to Honor Your Loved One
82. Losing Our Parents
85. Memory Books
86. Visualization
87. Asking Questions through Visualization
88. Visualizing the Future
CHAPTER NINE LOSING A CHILD
89. Losing A Child
89. Your Relationship with Your Partner
91. Grieving Styles
92. Problem Solving Barriers
93. Guidelines for Grieving Men and Their Partners
93. Guidelines for Grieving Couples
96. Guidelines for Single Parents
CHAPTER TEN WHEN LOSS IS FROM SUICIDE
99. Common Reactions to Suicide
99. Questions and Suicide
100. Religion and Suicide
102. Singing Lessons
CHAPTER ELEVEN THE LOSS OF A PARTNER
103. Loss of Identify
105. Some Things You Can Do
106. Important Things to Remember on the Pathway
CHAPTER TWELVE SUPPORT GROUPS AND HELP
108. Journaling and Letter Writing
109. Freewrite
110. Devotions
110. Poetry
111. The Gratitude journal
114. F.A.Q. About Self-Help and Therapy
115. Questions to Ask Your Support Group
116. Friends Support Group Invitation
CHAPTER THIRTEEN RESOURCES & SUPPORT
118. Supportive Publications
119. Support for Loss for a Partner
120. Support for Grieving Children
121. Support for the Loss of a Child
125. General Bereavement Support
128. Support for Loss After Suicide
129. Support for Siblings
129. Suggested Reading
131. Books about Grief Recovery
131. Books for Grieving Men
132. Books About the Loss of a Friend
132. Books About Helping Someone Who Is Grieving
133. Books About the Loss of a Child
133. General Books for Professionals
134. General Books for Children, Teens and their Caregivers
137. Books About the Death of a Partner
AFTERWORD	139	(2)
BIBLIOGRAPHY	141