Recent Stories
Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I’ve heard about your work with traumatic bereavement and decided to reach out with a question. I hope you don’t mind. How would you recommend I work through your process of meaning making after loss — is it through your book/workbook or with a counselor? Four years ago, I survived a head-on collision, but […]
Continue ReadingWhat is the Meaning of Life? is re-published in remembrance of 9/11 Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I have just one question, but it is a big one. In your opinion, what is the meaning of life?–Nicolae Dear Nicolae, I’m a practicing psychologist who works alongside people who are struggling with deeply unwelcome changes in their lives–the […]
Continue ReadingFor Labor Day… Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I work on an oncology unit in a large metropolitan hospital as a senior nurse, supervising several RNs and nursing assistants who care for many seriously ill patients. Although most of the care we provide supports their recovery, we also lose many patients each week, some of whom are […]
Continue ReadingDear Dr. Neimeyer, I know from you writings and my own experience as a social worker in other settings that people contending with a traumatic loss benefit from having a safe space to slowly and fully tell the story of their loved one’s death, and reflect on its meaning for their lives. This can be […]
Continue ReadingDear Dr. Neimeyer, My son was stabbed this Spring and lost his life two days later, and they let the guy walk free. I continue fighting for justice for my son, but I am so lost without him. I am literally going crazy. I can’t sleep, I don’t eat properly, and I have lost 25 […]
Continue ReadingDear Dr. Neimeyer, My teenage son was electrocuted at home accidentally almost 20 years ago. My counselor is not happy with my saying he was killed. I know the difference because about three decades ago, another toddler son died from a cerebral aneurysm , so in my eyes one died and one was killed and […]
Continue ReadingI am in the same situation Tina, my hubby, soul mate, best friend, rock and my everything passes away just recently in a mountaineering accident. I literally feel like I am dead on the inside. I am nothing without him. I don’t want to live anymore if I can’t live with him. I have grown […]
Continue ReadingDear Sabina, That is a terrible experience. I know the pain of loss because I too lost my husband. We weren’t married very long because he was ill and I knew that when I decided to marry him. We were so certain that after his heart valve replacement he would be well again. I funded […]
Continue ReadingDear Dr. Neimeyer, My daughter was murdered a year ago. She was upset with me before it happened. I saw her the morning it happened, and we only waved at each other. Later, I saw her body lying on the floor in her house and I can’t get that image out of my head. I […]
Continue ReadingDear Dr. Neimeyer, My husband died two years ago. I also lost my home of more than a quarter century. and had to file for bankruptcy due to his passing. I have no idea how to get over this and live again. I cry every day. People are tired of my grief and stay away. Please help […]
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