Don't Take My Grief Away

by Doug Manning

Offers advice on making funeral arrangements, explains the stages of grief, and tells how faith can help the griefstricken

Genres: Grief, Nonfiction

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gift...this one from a neighbor. Manning gives us permission to feel everything we feel, and shares some practical advice about how to handle family gatherings differently.

"There is no such thing as "getting over" your grief...

Swallowed anger becomes depression...

The "if onlys" block the gift of memories that can sustain you"

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You give yourself permission to grieve by recognizing the need for grieving. Grieving is the natural way of working through the loss of a love. Grieving is not weakness nor absence of faith. Grieving is as natural as crying when you hurt, sleeping when you are tired, or sneezing when your nose itches. It's nature's way of healing a broken heart." pg. 66

[Raine Shakti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I wish I had found 11 years ago when world started to come crashing down around my ears. My father died a long slow death from lung cancer the day after Thanksgiving 2008. I had to be strong and be there for everyone else so I had to shove my grief to the side. A little more than a year later on December 6, 2009, my ex husband had a heart attack and three months later announced he wanted a divorce. I was angry, I was sad, I was afraid, but at the heart of it all was grief.

People were continually telling me to get over my divorce, to get over my anger, etc. etc. However, the dual loss of my father and my marriage was overwhelming and I could not just get over it. It took a lot of slow and painful work to rebuild my sense of self and Don't Take My Grief Away: What to Do When You Lose a Loved One Don't Take My Grief Away From Me would have helped me tremendously as it is a very pragmatic book that says it is an incredibly pragmatic book that says grief is okay and that you need to take as long as you take.

There is another passage that is incredibly illuminating. In talking about the anticipation of a "first" such as an anniversary or holiday, Manning says, "The anticipation of the event may be even worse than the event itself. We tend to start dreading the event about a month beforehand. We may not notice or make a connection to the upcoming event but something starts happening inside of us." He went on to explain that we often find ourselves feeling the grief in our body. This made so much sense to me because the first few years after my separation and subsequent divorce, I started getting anxious around the time of my anniversary and even when I told myself to let it go, my body was still anxious.

Overall, this is a very kind and loving approach to grief and I highly recommend that anyone who is grieving read it. I also recommend it for folks who have a loved one grieving.

[Susie Raiford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a helpful guide to the aftermath of losing a loved one and grieving. I found it validating and encouraging. I recommend it if you are navigating widowhood. If you start reading it after the funeral is over just skip to section 2/page 39.

[Rbjumbob · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a Christian this is a comforting book. Even if you are not, this goes through grieving process. It's a good quick read.

[J Crossley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book looks at different aspects of grief. It suggests to allow yourself to grieve instead of letting others try to "help" and take away your grief. (I have learned that you can only get THROUGH grief. You can't eliminate grief. If you pretend that it isn't an issue, it comes back stronger.)

[Cws]

248.8 Man

[Harley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave this book to my brothers and sisters when my father died.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manning offers grief as a legitimate option, with no time limit tables propriety attached. Helpful to the hurt and to prevent adding hurt to those who are already hurting.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a very nice read. Light on dealing with lose. Nice poems and biblical crossreferences.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

good for the layperson grieving a loss.