Customer Reviews

When Your Spouse Dies - A Widow & Widower's Handbook

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Losing a spouse is never in your life plan. But when death happens, it's good to have a book that explains what needs to be done and the emotions surrounding the experience.

This book walked me through the day to day issues that needed to be done. The pain of losing a spouse and the 101 details and emotions that surround the death makes it hard to sort through the stuff. This book helped me.

You never really will 'get over it,' however life does go on and I had to rejoin it. This book gave me that courage, mostly by giving me real tools with which to handle all the new challenges that were coming my way (wills, lawyers, social security, etc). After 8 months of grieving, it finally turned me towards recovery.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with a very sick spouse or has lost their spouse in the last year or just can't seem to rejoin the world, no matter how long it has been since they were widowed.

This book forewarned me of some of the logistical problems that come with widowhood. From the financial to the emotional, I did realize that I was having "normal" - if anyone can call it that - responses to what was happening to me. Thank you, Drs Seiden and Bilett for giving me enough comfort to feel comfortable inside my own skin again.

If you're going through this, get this book, it is a good resource at so many levels. And if you are going through this, you're not alone and I'm sorry...

As a physician, I was more familiar with death than I wanted to be, but when my own wife of 48 years passed away I was shocked to discover how little I really was prepared for. The awakening was so rude, I felt compelled to write this book as a forewarning to those are anticipating the passing of a loved one, and helping those who have lost a spouse. We all anticipate a period of grief, but not the logistics of dying. We don't think of the legal ramifications, the financial unraveling, the insurance hassles, or the literally hundreds of details that have to be taken care of following a loss; and all these things hit you in the midst of your grieving and shock.

Still, life goes on, and eventually you have to return to it and society, but now as a single person. It's a different world today than it was when you were last single, and in many ways you're a different person. Perhaps one of the most helpful part of this book is helping you get back into society and enjoying life as your spouse would have wanted.

The author whilst well meaning and educated is fixated on the same old type of grief work that has been available for years. There is nothing new or interesting; Kubler-Ross covered this tired old patch of ground and everyone takes her approach as gospel including these authors. I am dealing with the imminent death of my second spouse from lung cancer, the previous one died from breast cancer I hoped that this book would have helped it did not, it just filled in the time doing laundry. There are other far more imaginative ways to deal with grief and each person needs to find the courage to decide what they need regardless of the so called "proper ways."
Save your cash and buy a cup of coffee it will do you more good.