The 5 Ways We Grieve

Susan Berger takes what we already know about grief and expands these premises into a journey of self discovery. I didn't understand or even pay attention to how my life changed after the passing of a loved one and this book really opened my eyes to what was going on around me. I saw and understood that I'm not the only one effecteds by the loss. There are others all around me that are changed forever because of loss.

Susan Berger explained it all in such broad yet defined terms that I understood her book right away and was agreeing with her, eagerly turning the pages for more understanding of what I am going through.

She explains how our whole life is changed because of losing one person and the different ways that we react to that loss. There are different types for different people. Those types are:

Nomads, who have not yet resolved their grief and don’t often understand how their loss has affected their lives

Memorialists, who are committed to preserving the memory of their loved ones by creating concrete memorials and rituals to honor them

Normalizers, who are committed to re-creating a sense of family and community

Activists, who focus on helping other people who are dealing with the same disease or issues that caused their loved one’s death

Seekers, who adopt religious, philosophical, or spiritual beliefs to create meaning in their lives

This book has helped me so much already and I can't wait to pass it on to my loved ones to read. I want them to get a better understanding of how the grieving process changes and helps us grow and expand as people.

The tens years of research and interviewing people Susan Berger put into this book make it such a wonderful and comforting read for those of us who have lost someone close to us.