"Almost two million people die every year in the United States—and nearly every one of them leaves behind someone who mourns their loss."
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Letting Go With Love:
The Grieving Process by Nancy O'Connor, Ph.D. La Mariposa Press
book review by Caroline Blaha-Black
Nancy O'Connor’s handbook on overcoming grief helps the survivors of the deceased let go of their loved ones properly, gives important pointers on how to make it through the grieving period, and helps them go back to living their life to the fullest. Grief is something we all experience, whether it is the death of a child, parent, spouse, friend, or a sibling. The author breaks grief into four stages, starting with breaking old, ingrained habits and ending with a complete readjustment to the new situation, for example, adjusting to the new way of living after a spouse died and being forced to learn new skills to survive. Rather than viewing death as the enemy in our fast-paced society, the author teaches that it is better to feel grief than suppress it, which could manifest itself later as diseases or depressions. Death is an unavoidable, natural part of the life cycle, and the author gives the necessary tools to overcome these strong feelings and get on with their life.
Interestingly, O'Connor devotes a chapter to the death of one's self, illustrating how age, hope, and denial play a role at how we look at our own passing. Death by suicide and various other catastrophic deaths are also covered, from murder and victimization to war and drug overdose. Several coping styles are highlighted and how a person chooses to heal after their loss as well as releasing old habits and ways of thinking. This is a great book for someone who grieves a loved one's passing or for someone with a terminal illness who needs to come to terms with their own death.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review