This book was written to be a comfort and guide for bereaved parents whose adult child has died; to show by sharing our experiences that we are not alone in our responses to our child's death; that we are not weak, defective in character or otherwise inadequate because of the way we grieve; to spell out ways in which some of us have increased our understanding of our condition, found solace, dispelled guilt and anger, overcome depression, come to terms with survivors, and memorialized our deceased children. Questionnaires were sent to more than sixty bereaved parents of adult children who died and many anonymous examples from these questionnaires are used throughout the book.

"This is not a clinical study; it is based solely on the personal experiences of the author and some sixty other bereaved parents who answered her questionnaire.

Whether a death is sudden or anticipated, losing a loved one shakes us to our very core, destroying our belief in a just, safe, and predictable world. Grief often changes us quickly both physically and mentally. It is like being kidnapped and suddenly transported to a foreign land without luggage, a passport, or the language to make sense of what's happening. Even if you have a road map for getting through the pain and anguish, you still have to take the trip. The purpose of this book is to help you find threads of hope that will assist your recovery and help you carry on. By sharing inspirational stories, personal experiences, and professional advice from contributors to theOpen to Hope website, we trust that you will be comforted and inspired by learning how others dealt with their losses, what they saw as roadblocks, and how they handled them as well as what it has taken for them to not only survive, but thrive. We want to help you resume leading the life that you were meant to live--a life of satisfaction and one driven by a belief in your own personal power for change.

When a parent dies, most adults are seized by an unexpected crisis that can trigger a profound transformation. Using in-depth interviews and national surveys, Dr Umberson explains why the death of a parent has strong effects on adults and looks at protective factors that help some individuals experience better mental health following the death than they did when the parent was alive. This is the first book to rely on sound scientific method to document the significant adverse effects of parental death for adults in a national population. Exploring the social and psychological risk factors that make some people more vulnerable than others, readers will come to view the loss of a parent in a new way: as a turning point in adult development.

Parents aren't supposed to outlive their children, but they do. Ellyn Wolfe's journey through hell and out the other side begins with a phone call from 3,000 miles away, "Mom, I have cancer." A memoir of loss and survival, denial and fear, optimism and coping strategies, Grateful for the Color Blue is a compassionate outreach to anyone who has lived through loss and needs to know they are not alone. Beautifully written with heart-wrenching intensity, diversionary escapes into nature, and revelations about intuition and mindfulness that yield startling results, this memoir is a page-turner.

How to recognize and cope with Parent Frustration Syndrome (PFS): negative thoughts and feelings about your children"

"The author's ability to connect with the those grieving the loss of a parent is so evident. Readers will see themselves on almost every page and find the comfort they need in Gary's compassionate empathy and counsel." - Paul Casale, Licensed Professional Counselor/Marriage and Family Therapist The loss of a parent is painful. The loss of a mother or father can be traumatic. Oblivious to our suffering, the world around us speeds on as if nothing happened. Stunned, shocked, sad, confused, and angry, we blink in disbelief. Our hearts are broken. We've known them all our lives. How could they be gone? We look for comfort. Our broken, grieving hearts need it to survive. Multiple award-winning author, hospice chaplain, and grief counselor Gary Roe is a trusted voice who has been helping wounded, grieving hearts find hope and healing for more than three decades. Written with heartfelt compassion, this warm, easy-to-read, and practical book reads like a caring conversation with a friend and will become a comforting companion as you navigate the turbulent waters of grief. Gary's desire is to meet you in your grief and walk with you there. Composed of brief chapters, Comfort for the Grieving Adult Child's Heart is designed to be read one chapter per day, giving you bite-sized bits of comfort, encouragement, and healing over a period of time. You do not have to read it this way, of course. We all grieve differently. Read in the way that is most natural for you. In Comfort for the Grieving Adult Child's Heart, you will discover how to... Process complicated grief emotions (sadness, anger, guilt, confusion, guilt, anxiety, depression, feeling overwhelmed, etc). Navigate all the relational changes - feeling alone, misunderstood, isolated, and even rejected by those around you. Handle the increased stress and uncertainty that this heavy loss can bring. Deal with physical and mental health issues, illnesses, and new symptoms that often arise. Take care of yourself through diet, hydration, fitness, and rest. Deal with a myriad of practical issues (financial challenges, parenting, family activities), Handle the intense sense of being orphaned that comes with this loss. You will also find hope in how to... Think through the challenging spiritual and faith questions that frequently surface. Relate well to the people around you - those who are helpful and those who aren't. Overcome the tendency to run from emotional pain with unhealthy habits or compulsive behaviors. Deal well with triggers and the grief bursts that will come. Find the support you need for survival, recovery, and healing (safe people, fellow grievers, counseling, etc.). Develop a simple, realistic plan for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Use your grief for good - for yourself, your family, and others. Allow this loss to give you greater perspective and motivate you to live more effectively than ever before. Make your life count, one day, one moment at a time. Please don't grieve alone. Let Comfort for the Adult Child's Heart join you on this arduous, tasking journey. Be kind to yourself. Take your heart seriously. Death has invaded, but it doesn't have to win. Read on. Comfort awaits you in these pages of this book.