Surviving the Death of a Sibling - Living Through Grief When an Adult Brother or Sister Dies

Zusatztext “If you or someone you love has experienced the death of an adult sibling, then buy this book. Wray is a captivating story teller who weaves stories of herself and many other sibling grievers to bring clarity and understanding to the complex process of sibling grief. Insightful, consoling, and filled with helpful, proactive steps designed to help surviving siblings cope with their devastating loss, Surviving the Death of a Sibling is a ‘must read’ for every surviving sibling.” —Tom Golden LCSW, author of Swallowed by a Snake: The Gift of the Masculine Side of Healing Informationen zum Autor T.J. WRAY teaches religious studies at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, and is the creator of www.adultsiblinggrief.com. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband and three children. Klappentext When T.J. Wray lost her 43-year-old brother, her grief was deep and enduring and, she soon discovered, not fully acknowledged. Despite the longevity of adult sibling relationships, surviving siblings are often made to feel as if their grief is somehow unwarranted. After all, when an adult sibling dies, he or she often leaves behind parents, a spouse, and even children—all of whom suffer a more socially recognized type of loss. Based on the author's own experiences, as well as those of many others, Surviving the Death of a Sibling helps adults who have lost a brother or sister to realize that they are not alone in their struggle. Just as important, it teaches them to understand the unique stages of their grieving process, offering practical and prescriptive advice for dealing with each stage. In Surviving the Death of a Sibling, T.J. Wray discusses: • Searching for and finding meaning in your sibling's passing • Using a grief journal to record your emotions • Choosing a grief partner to help you through tough times • Dealing with insensitive remarks made by others Warm and personal, and a rich source of useful insights and coping strategies, Surviving the Death of a Sibling is a unique addition to the literature of bereavement. INTRODUCTION Why A Book About Adult Sibling Grief? The year my brother died, I forgot how to breathe. Often it would catch me unaware, that terrible feeling that was suffocating—at work, at home, sometimes at night, as I tried to sleep. As if I had drawn a breath but simply forgotten how to exhale. “I think there’s something wrong with me,” I confided one afternoon to a colleague who had also lost a sibling. “Sometimes, my chest aches,” I told her. “Like I’m holding my breath for too long. I feel light-headed and weak and I’m so tired. My eyes water and I have trouble thinking clearly and talking.” She was silent for a moment and then said quietly, “You’re okay; it’s just the grief.” But I wasn’t okay. The year my brother died, I forgot how to breathe, and no one seemed to notice. Oh, they might have noticed a bit at first, but after a few weeks I could be walking around with my face turning blue and no one would say a word. After all, it was only my brother; I should get over it. My brother . In the stillness of the early mornings when I have the house all to myself, I can recall his face and the sound of his voice so clearly that I’m often surprised, when I wake from my reverie, by his palpable absence. Even after five years, the shock of it all comes in bright, hot flashes and I blink back tears. I still hug my sides and rock back on my heels every now and then and ask, “Why?” Never expecting an answer. But most of all, I just miss him. I miss our long conversations about religion and philosophy and how both can make people either enlightened or judgmental. I miss our deep belly laughs about our older sister Linda, and how as a skinny teenage she used to wear six slips under her skirt to make her butt look bigger. I mi...

Product details

• Authors: Wray, T J Wray, T. J. Wray, T.J. Wray
• Publisher: Harmony
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 27.05.2003
• EAN: 9780609809808
• ISBN: 978-0-609-80980-8
• No. of pages: 272
• Dimensions: 130 mm x 203 mm x 14 mm
• Subject: Guides > Self-help, everyday life > Lifestyle, personal development