Chapter Seven
Am I Stuck?
Death is oblivious to age, income, religion, or race. It may come without warning or clear cause. It may follow a long, painful illness, yet it continues to demand your attention.
Death brings about many reactions in widely contrasting combinations. No one can tell you how to grieve, or for how long. It is a unique experience for each person. I am often asked whether a particular grief reaction is normal.
What is "normal"? Perhaps the best, general understanding is that what you are experiencing is where you need to be. Clients often refer to life before the loss and after the loss. What develops is a "new normal."
I once worked with a client, Jack, who had lost his wife to chronic depression and untimately suicide. He was preoccupuied and restless at the beginning of a session, nearing the end of many months of therapy. (Read The Book)
