Publisher's Synopsis
"How Long Will the Pain Last?" is a question that most bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings want to know after the death of a beloved child. In fact, it's a question asked by nearly everyone who has lost a significant love. As a bereaved parent and professional counselor, Charlene incorporates poignant quotes and stories from other hurting idividuals, as well as from her own personal diary. These help the reader realize that they're not going crazy; they're actually quite normal considering their abnormal situation. Unlike other books on the market, "How Long Will the Pain Last?" gives tips and techniques to help the reader work through difficult and painful emotions, such as anger, guilt, anxiety/fear, and depression; however, one of the main purposes of the book is to inspire hope. At some point in our grief journey, we may believe that happiness is a thing of our past. In reality, we do simply survive at first, but eventually, we find a new happiness and learn to appreciate every precious minute and each other as never before. Time helps, but we have to work with time. The way a child dies causes variations in grief symptoms, so Part II of the book contains chapters on Miscarriage and Early Infant Death, SIDS, Long Term Illness, Sudden Death, Suicide, Homicide, AIDS, Substance Abuse Related Deaths and Deaths Due to Asphyxia. The last chapter, "Every Exit is also an Entrance" pertains to finding happiness again.
