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Abstract

In this personal journey of grief, the author compares and contrasts her grief reactions and process of mourning at two stages of life. The first death, that of her father, occurred when she was thirteen and resulted in unresolved grief that later led to two suicide attempts and chronic depression. The second death, that of her best friend, occurred forty-eight years later. This time, she buried none of her feelings, and there was catharsis and healing. With this second death, she felt angry that her friend had died with so much turmoil in her life and without finding peace. These feelings catapulted her back to the time of her father's death. The author concludes that while all losses are traumatic, the consequences of a childhood loss are more devastating than at any other stage of life. For a child, the death of a parent is the loss that is forever.

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A Personal Journey through Grief

Abstract

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