Linda N Edelstein Ph D

Shattered Linda N Edelstein Ph D

"A club no one wants to belong to..." is the way parents describe their new, unwanted lives after their child's death. Parents must struggle through the long days, overwhelmed and brokenhearted. In Shattered, psychologist and author Linda N. Edelstein, Ph. D., asks the question,"How do parents cope with the devastating loss of their beloved child?" Dr. E. blends intimate conversations with grieving parents, decades of clinical expertise, and results of research studies to offer parents a helping hand as they navigate their personal world of grief. Non-judgmental and encouraging, Dr. Edelstein urges parents to respect their own ways of grieving. Without presenting "cookbook" answers, the resources and perspectives she offers provide hope that, although their world has changed forever, families can look ahead to good days and meaningful lives. This book is a valuable resource for parents and the people who love them. Topics range from the shock of first hearing the news to coping strategies that grieving parents have found effective as the years pass. Chapters include: the emotions of grief, the mourning process, the impact on marital relationships, reactions of brothers and sisters, perinatal loss, complicated grief, bereavement self-help groups, what to do with the child's belongings, rituals for healing, the value and limitations of social networks, use of the internet, and helping professionals. Shattered: How Parents Cope with the Death of their Child also addresses the unique issues faced by gay and lesbian parents, military families, parents of school shooters, and celebrity families. She completes the book with two hopeful chapters about long term coping and rethinking parental bereavement.