Dear Dr. Neimeyer. Today marks eight months since I lost my husband. He was only 46 years old. I still am having a difficult time realizing he is not coming back. The first few months after he was gone, I had to leave work every single day at lunch to cry in my car and
Loss of a Beloved Uncle
Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I just lost my uncle, and I can’t even see a picture with him in without breaking down. He and I were very close, but I didn’t even get to go to his funeral. I feel like I let him down by not going. The last time I saw him was the
Husband’s Suicide: How do I move on?
Dear Dr. Neimeyer, My husband of over 30 years killed himself over two years ago. I went through survival mode the first year, and now have my life “working” in a sense, but still ruminate too much about “why,” and what I could have done to change it. I want peace, to accept that this
An Ask Dr. Neimeyer Guest Column Parents and Children
Two weeks ago we published an Ask Dr. Neimeyer about the decision process for those who are looking to move their widowed parents from their homes into a facility. You can read it by CLICKING HERE Here is an eloquent response from a widow reader: Dear Dr. Neimeyer, This post from Doris, “Healing Transitions for
I was not permitted to grieve for my Dad
Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I was not permitted to grieve for my Dad when he passed over five years ago because of his wife. I asked her if I could pick the casket out with her and be involved in the planning of his funeral. She said no and went ahead with it. Dad and I
Healing Transitions for Parents
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
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
My Daughter Took Her Own Life
Dear Dr. Neimeyer, My only child, my 16 year old daughter, took her own life just one month ago. She showed no signs at all. Straight A student, worked as cashier part time, saving money for college. She just finished her College Boards and got an amazing score. I know this wasn’t planned–she had placed orders
Suicide of a Son: A Mother’s Question
Editor: Last week was National Suicide Prevention Week, hence this post: Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I lost my son to suicide, and I am struggling with the urge to join him. I try to stay here for my beautiful granddaughter that he left for me to enjoy. There are days that it is almost like living
A woman who lost her adult son to sudden death
Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I am currently working with a woman who lost her adult son to sudden death when he was residing in a foreign country 5 years ago. Since then she has been absorbed in a deep and isolating grief, though she has two other adult children and a husband who remain quite concerned