Recent Stories

My son died…holding on to good memories

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | May 18, 2020 | 0 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, My 26 year old son died 7 years ago after a prolonged battle with a malignant brain tumor. I was his caretaker. He was my first child and my only son. Our relationship was magnificent. I can’t get a grip on the good memories. I am constantly thrown into a grand mal seizure or […]

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Ambiguous Losses: a brother’s cancer diagnosis

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | May 11, 2020 | 0 Comments

Editor’s note: we thought this relevant to the time we are living in when many are struggling with the prospect of a loved one dying. Dear Dr. Neimeyer, Five years ago my younger brother, Eric, was diagnosed with cancer, though he was only 15 at the time.  Our life as a family seemed to change […]

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Now cut off from the world…Complicated Grief

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | May 4, 2020 | 0 Comments

Editor’s note: we thought this was relevant in a time when many who are grieving are cut off from normal social interaction and rituals of grief. Dear Dr. Neimeyer, As a director of a bereavement center myself, I am very concerned about a friend. Her mother died about 4 years ago. Her father died about […]

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Complicated Grief: A therapist asks about the loss of a daughter

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | April 27, 2020 | 2 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I have been working intermittently for many years with a woman named Pam who was divorced when her adult children were adolescents, as a result of the father’s unpredictable and violent behavior and alcoholism. Likewise, two of her four children have had long histories of drug and alcohol use, despite her funding […]

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On the Pandemic: Ask Dr. Neimeyer 4.20.20

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | April 20, 2020 | 0 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I am sure that I am not alone in saying that the COVID-19 crisis has rocked my world, and I really don’t know which way to turn.  Of course, like everyone else I am following the advice of medical authorities regarding hand washing, social distancing, curtailing unnecessary travel, and the rest.  But […]

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What is the Meaning of Life?

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | April 13, 2020 | 0 Comments

What is the Meaning of Life? We felt this would be a good time to reflect on the ultimate question, as our world faces the greatest active challenge of modern time.–Editor 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 […]

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Holiday Grieving

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | April 6, 2020 | 1 Comment

Editor’s Note: many approaching the holidays of Easter and Passover with a loss recently behind them, and their grief overlaid with the despair of these times of pandemic. We thought this Dr. Neimeyer column might be helpful–LL Dear Dr. Neimeyer– My husband died just over a year ago, so now begins my second year without […]

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Tragic Death of a Loved One–finding meaning – copy

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | March 30, 2020 | 2 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I have read and heard you speak about the need to revisit and retell the story of the tragic death of a loved one in order to find meaning in the event.  What stands out in your comments is obvious, but should be underlined, in my view:   the profound Truth about the need […]

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The Pandemic and Grieving and the Events in Paris 2015

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | March 23, 2020 | 0 Comments

Editor: On November 13, 2015 the world was shocked by a series of terrorist attacks in Paris. We felt that Dr. Neimeyer’s words in response to that were relevant to what all Americans, in fact the entire world, is experiencing right now.  Be safe. Be Healthy LB & LL Dear Dr. Niemeyer, I feel I […]

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Complicated and consuming grief of a friend

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | March 16, 2020 | 1 Comment

Dear Dr. Neimeyer I have read and appreciate your work about meaning reconstruction in loss. I have a friend whose grief is so complicated and consuming that she can’t find life for herself (her husband died from cancer about six years ago) and she can’t seem to move forward at all. Here is an excerpt […]

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