Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I lost my daughter, a 12-year-old, Melissa three weeks ago today. Earlier this summer she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder but was in good health—at least we thought. But when she got her first treatment, within a week she was in the CVICU and then we had to make the
Category Archives: Death of A Child
Anticipatory Grief: my daughter’s fate
Dear Dr. Neimeyer, If you have been experiencing anticipatory grief for a loved one, once they die do you still experience normal grief? Or is it all combined within the anticipatory? I have a daughter who is a medical guinea pig, and as far as we can tell she is the oldest surviving person in
Over My Son’s Death?: An Ask Dr. Neimeyer Guest Column
Editor’s Note: This week is a departure. The following was written by Mary Jane Hurley Brant, M.S., CGP in response to last week’s post about a mother angry that she is frequently asked if she is “over” her son’s death You can read the question and Dr. Neimeyer’s reply at this link: CLICK HERE. Mary Jane is
Over my Son’s Death?
Dr. Neimeyer, I stay so angry at people that expect me to be over my son’s death eight years ago. What can I say to them? They act like I have failed or just want attention. I hurt terribly. Bette Dear Bette– No doubt it is hard, if not impossible, for someone who has not
Coping with the autopsy
Dear Dr. Neimeyer, My son John, died just 14 months ago at 31 years of age. The Coroner’s findings were that he died from Mixed Drug Toxicity, Drug Induced Cardiomyopathy and Chronic on Acute Pancreatitis. John was also Hep C+ve. His father died from a long and complicated course of illness that extended through John’s
How do I forgive?
Dear Dr. Neimeyer, How do I forgive the person who dumped my first-born son unconscious out of his car and left him to die? I lost my son almost three years ago; someone left him unconscious and he died in an empty parking lot alone. He was an organ donor and saved five different lives.
Why is it so hard? Coping with multiple losses.
Dear Dr. Neimeyer, Why is it so hard? I lost my sister in the spring, then my husband a month later, then my son two months later. It’s been a losing battle I just don’t know how to handle this. Paulina Dear Paulina, When a person has a litany of losses in such close succession
Infant Death, Munchausen’s and Grief Counseling
Dear Dr. Neimeyer, Thanks for considering my question. I am a grief counselor working providing support to a local community. I am currently working with a woman grieving the loss of her infant son, due to premature birth. She also concurrently has a medical diagnosis of Munchausen’s syndrome. In trying to navigate grief and re-establish
Spouses grieving differently
Dr. Neimeyer My daughter passed away four years ago. My husband and I grieve so differently. I find it difficult to feel supported by him because I have always needed to talk about my grief while he rarely talks about his. When I cry, he doesn’t know what to say and doesn’t really offer the
My teenage son was electrocuted…
Dear 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 to me