A companion to the bereavement classic. Based on the bereavement classic I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye, this grief and loss workbook offers step-by-step support and encouragement on your way to understanding and dealing with grief. Called a "support group in your hands" by professionals and mourners alike, I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye- A Companion Workbook acts as a comforting touchstone to navigate the unique emotions and challenges when learning how to cope with death. Tapping into their personal histories and drawing on numerous interviews, authors Brook Noel and Pamela D. Blair, PhD, explore sudden loss and its role in the cycle of life. Using a combination of self-exploration questions, visualization activities, and journaling, grieving readers will learn how to work through their anger, guilt, and loss of purpose towards an uplifting place of endurance and growth. The updated edition also touches upon new discussions, including- The unique circumstance of loss Men and women's grieving styles Religion and faith Grief's unanswerable questions. Combined with the classic grief recovery book I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye, this workbook truly places a support vehicle in the hands of those who are mourning.

Table of Contents:
1 CHAPTER ONE: OUR STORIES Pam's Story Brook's Story Sudden Loss Comes Again 9 CHAPTER TWO: THE FIRST FEW WEEKS Treat Yourself as If You Were in Intensive Care Your Immediate Needs School and Work A Checklist of Calls to Make Who Needs to Be Notified Call Log Delivering a Eulogy The Memorial Service What to Expect: Physical and Emotional Changes The Power of Friends Understanding Our Support Needs A Guide for Those Helping Others with Grief 28 CHAPTER THREE: DIFFICULT EMOTIONS The "If Only" Mind Game Anger Screaming Exercise Fear Depression, or Is It Appropriate Sadness? Loneliness Calming Exercises Multiple Grief Grief Sessions Coping with Guilt Self-Check 45 CHAPTER FOUR: MAKING SENSE OF THE WORLD AROUND YOU Loss of Purpose When Faith is Shattered What Do I Believe? Writing a Prayer Learning through Loss What I've Learned Along the Way What My Loved One Has Left Me Redefining Ourselves Thank You Exercise Thank You Letter Finding a Beginning, Middle, and End 67 CHAPTER FIVE: GRIEF BLOCKS I Don't Want to Talk About It Acknowledgement Help, I'm Stuck on Instant Replay Self-Judgment I Feel So Guilty Grief Myths Hurtful Self-Talk Reprogramming Self-Talk 79 CHAPTER SIX: HELPING CHILDREN COPE WITH GRIEF Private Grieving Unhealthy Anger Sexual Activity in Older Children Guilty Feelings Physical Outbursts The Need to Be Away From Home (in Older Children) Suicidal Thoughts Love and Support General Guidelines for Helping Children Tips for Older Children 86 CHAPTER SEVEN: SPECIAL OCCASIONS AND CHALLENGES Birthdays Anniversaries Rituals Ideas for Remembrance from the American Association of Retired Persons Holidays Holiday Traditions Where Does One Go During The Holidays? 96 CHAPTER EIGHT: THE LOSS OF A FRIEND Reaching for the Phone—An Ongoing Dialogue Close Ties Sharing Your Memories Internalizing Your Friend Friend Support Group Friends Support Group Invitation Some Things You Can Do 104 CHAPTER NINE: THE LOSS OF A PARENT Generation Shifts Grief . . . and Relief? Regrets Words of Wisdom Some Things You Can Do 111 CHAPTER TEN: THE LOSS OF A CHILD Extreme Emotions A Piece of Ourselves Guilt Losing an Adult Child For Parents with Surviving Children Your Relationship with Your Partner Convey Your Needs Guidelines for Grieving Couples Guidelines for Single Parents 126 CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE LOSS OF A PARTNER Loss of Identity Incorporate Traits Love Letters If You Still Have Children in the Home Some Things You Can Do 133 CHAPTER TWELVE: THE LOSS OF A SIBLING Being Overlooked in the Grieving Process Double the Loss Role Reversal Survival-Living Don't Let the Gap Grow Forgiving a Parent or Parents When People Idealize Your Sibling Hot and Cold Nature of Sibling Relationships Identity through a Sibling Words of Wisdom Some Things You Can Do 150 CHAPTERTHIRTEEN: WHEN LOSS IS FROMSUICIDE Common Reactions to Suicide Questions and Suicide Religion and Suicide Singing Lessons Some Things You Can Do 156 CHAPTER FOURTEEN: ADDITIONAL EXERCISES FOR YOUR JOURNEY Internalizing Our Loved One Contributions in the Name of Someone You Love Helping Parents Letter Writing Exercise Other Ideas to Honor Someone Who Has Died Memory Books Online Memorials Visualization Asking Questions through Visualization Important Things to Remember on the Pathway 165 CHAPTER FIFTEEN: WRITING THROUGH GRIEF. . . ALONE OR WITHIN A SUPPORT GROUP Journaling and Letter Writing Devotions and Journaling Poetry The Gratitude Journal Questions for a Support Group 175 CHAPTER SIXTEEN: RESOURCES AND SUPPORT Support for Loss of a Partner Support for Grieving Children Support for the Loss of a Child Support for Loss through Suicide Internet Support for Siblings General Bereavement Support Other Recommended Books by Topic BIBLIOGRAPHY ABOUT THE AUTHORS