Recent Stories

Experiencing the presence of a deceased loved one

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | May 12, 2025 | 0 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I’d like to ask him if some way people that pass ever come back, or when their body leaves but does the spirit stay? My only son died in May, and last night I heard him call me and I answered. Sandy Dear Sandy– Throughout recorded history and across a great many […]

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My Mother Died: Which Mother am I Writing To?

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | May 5, 2025 | 0 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I’ve been a fan of AfterTalk and your column for some time. I have used “Private Conversations” to talk with my deceased father for years. My mother died two weeks ago. I am starting to gel my “Conversations”  to my mother in my head. Here’s the rub, and the challenge: Which Mother […]

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Her mother died suddenly

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | April 28, 2025 | 0 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I am a marriage and family therapist with a 55 year old female client who is the only surviving member of her family  Her mother died suddenly and unexpectedly last year and she’s given up all her many interests.  She is full of anxiety and fear–seems agoraphobic–having panic attacks and hot flashes […]

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The Grief Journey

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | April 21, 2025 | 0 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, The grief journey never goes away. I lost my dad when I was 14, and my best friend when I was in my late 30s. Four years later another friend. My mom passed 15 years ago, and another close friend two years later. I just lost two friends in the past two months. […]

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Dr. Neimeyer’s New Book: Living Beyond Loss

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | April 14, 2025 | 0 Comments

     Listening to the bereaved—really listening—brings into sharp focus two things: their pain and their questions. In Living Beyond Loss: Questions and Answers about Grief and Bereavement, noted psychologist Robert Neimeyer compassionately engages the heartfelt inquiries of real bereaved people who have lost parents and partners, siblings and children, to illness, tragic accident, suicide […]

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“I am losing the final piece of him…”

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | April 7, 2025 | 1 Comment

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, My husband passed away nearly a dozen years ago and I have been receiving his Social Security Benefits since that time. On my birthday next Spring I will be taking my own Social Security.  My question is:  Why do I feel so apprehensive about taking mine and giving up my husband’s?  This is the […]

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Anticipatory Grief and a troubled son

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | March 31, 2025 | 0 Comments

Dear Dr Neimeyer, I am in a state of parental distress,  anticipatory grief, and I’m not sure what to do. I’m 68 and my eldest son (whom I’ll call “Tom”—not his real name) is now 38.  The bottom line is this:  Tom has a drug habit that is killing him, and I am experiencing anticipatory […]

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“My son took his own life…”

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | March 24, 2025 | 0 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, My 17 year old son took his own life not even a month ago. I find I can’t even type the details. He used a shotgun in our basement. Our whole family  found him shortly afterwards. I recently read about “atypical depression” which very well described Edward’s condition. He was doing well. […]

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Healing Transitions for Parents

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | March 17, 2025 | 0 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, As a counselor with a good deal of experience in working with grief,  I have been hired to present at a senior retirement community in my city.  The audience will be potential patrons who are looking to move their widowed parents from their homes into a facility.  The topic of the presentation […]

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Fearing the loss of a child

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | March 10, 2025 | 0 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, Firstly, thank you for providing your expertise online. It has helped me since losing one of my twin sons in his late 20s in a motorcycle accident not long ago. This time has been filled with not only grief for the loss of my very close son, but also worry for his twin brother  who witnessed […]

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