Recent Stories
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 […]
Continue ReadingDear 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 […]
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 to me […]
Continue ReadingDear 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 […]
Continue ReadingEditor: 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 […]
Continue ReadingDear 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 […]
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 […]
Continue Reading“An Oncology Unit Nurse Asks…” is a repeat of an earlier Dr. Neimeyer column in honor of Labor Day. When we think of “Labor Day” we often overlook those in the healthcare industry. Here’s why we shouldn’t: “In 2000, there were 7 million more workers in manufacturing than in health care. At the beginning of […]
Continue ReadingDear Dr. Neimeyer, I was heartbroken and overwhelmed reading the question to you from the woman with PTSD who was in the horrifying and traumatic accident that killed her two little girls and injured her husband and daughter. I want to let you know of a treatment for PTSD performed by Dr. Lipov in Chicago called the Stellate […]
Continue ReadingDear Dr. Neimeyer, I recently lost my husband to lung cancer. The chemotherapy was not working and they were debating whether another form of treatment would work. He then got an infection and was admitted to hospital. He never left the hospital as he got sepsis. I feel responsible as I was his caregiver 24/7 […]
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