When my neighbor’s daughter died following a car accident, the neighborhood pulled together and extended an array of kindnesses. Folks they did not know left bagels on their doorstep; others placed additional obituaries in their mailbox, and many sent cards and flowers. My neighbor wanted to acknowledge the thoughtful deeds but was…

A friend’s father made his final requests abundantly clear. He wanted no obituary, burial, or funeral rituals of any kind. His wife honored his wishes; he was cremated and his remains reside on the top shelf of the master closet. With no memorial or gathering of friends following her husband’s death, the bereaved spouse has been unable to grieve. Her daughter worries she will never mourn or move…

book no 1 giv us a book 2 deal on los we do it way we do

I am on here because about a month ago I lost my beloved 25 year old son Colton to suicide. This has been the most difficult month of my life! I miss my baby boy so much! I feel like my heart has been ripped out and stomped on!

Q.  My husband died several months ago, and people keep asking me whether I’m going to sell my house and downsize or move somewhere else entirely. How do others decide what to do?

Therapists and counselors who work with bereaved spouses commonly advise: Wait a year or so before finalizing the decision, unless you have no choice for financial or other…

What’s the test of a friendship? Sadly, it’s when tough times come calling. Some friends stand by and others fade by the wayside.

How do you respond when a friend or family member gets sick, has an accident, requires treatment or rehabilitation, or experiences the death of a loved one?

Many of us want to be there and would like to do the right things, but something prevents us.…

Q. My colleague’s 19-year-old brother died in a freak biking accident. I attended the funeral and sent a condolence note, but worry about what to say and do when the bereaved comes back to work next week. What is your advice?

You’re not alone in your concerns. “Coworkers and managers don’t know…

If you have ever lost a loved one, you know how painful it is. We grieve: It's our response to loss, and mourning is our reaction to grief. Mourning is the heartbreaking process we work through so we can eventually adapt to loss.

Friends or family members play a crucial role in extending support during the mourning period.…

In the aftermath of her daughter’s death, my friend Isabel’s memory is hazy. She recalls friends surrounding her; they called, sent flowers, prepared meals, made donations, and attended the memorial service. And then silence. In the ensuing weeks, it took all her energy to assume fragments of her routine. Isabel said she exhausted her reserve and could…

It’s important to consider your social media accounts when making your estate plans. Do you want your accounts deleted or memorialized upon your death? Add a list of your social media accounts, passwords, and other required information to your estate planning documents so your heirs can easily and completely manage your affairs.…

Well next month it will be 5 years since my brother passed away from alcoholism at 32 years old.  It feels crazy that amount time has passed... I think I may have been living in a bubble the first 2 or 3 years just managing daily life and trying to get through.  Other people share that it gets easier ..... I cant say I agree.  Although I moved on with life and have a great life, it has not remotely made a difference in the amount of pain I feel, or the fact that he inst coming back.  It…

Nine days ago I lost my other half.  The 29th of this month will be our 3year anniversary, although we had been friends over half of my life.  I've never had to deal with losing someone this close to me and I never knew a person's heart could hurt so much.  It feels like my world was turned upside down and I don't know when it will ever turn right side up again.  My chest is tight, my stomach is in knots, my head is hurting.  I feel like I am on a roller coaster of emotions; torn between…

When loss hits, it wipes you out. It can be hard to get out of bed each morning no less resume daily routines. How can you make you way back while continuing to mend?

1. Re-enter slowly being careful not to overwhelm yourself.
2. Exercise is one of the best ways you…

My name is James but most people call me Tommy.  I am the oldest son of 4 brothers.  But my story starts with the fact that there are only two of us left.  18 years ago my first brother died in a car accident. I got a call near midnight from another brother telling me that he had died. He was only a year younger than me.  Of course his death was hard but in many ways it drew our family closer together.  In some ways I felt like I had closure with him.  Fast forward to 2011. I got another…

Q. My elderly aunt just died, and I’m on the fence about attending the funeral. I loved her, but the funeral is far away and will be so depressing. Will it really matter if I don’t go?

The big question is: matter to whom? So many rituals, which bind us together, have fallen by the wayside in our…

Are you grieving for Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds? Still saddened by the deaths of …

We will be going on 9 months on Jan. 8th since I lost my husband to a drugged driver. Sometimes I get so lonesome not  only because most the time I am home alone but I miss his voice and seeing him look over at me, I miss his smile, I miss knowing that he is next to me in the bed. So many other people still have kids at home, I am alone.