Bearing Witness: The Healing Power of Seeing a Loved One After Death

People who suddenly lose a spouse or a child to murder, suicide or an accident often benefit from being allowed to see the dead person’s body, even if it’s bruised or starting to decompose, a new investigation finds.  ~ Science News

A reader writes: I have spent hours reading your articles and books, and I am just about to order another one for my son on the death of a sibling.

I don’t know if you remember me, but you helped me in a profound way last June. You gave me immediate guidance regarding my son, who had gone missing at sea following a climbing accident. He was 26 and had nearly qualified as a doctor.

Understanding and Managing Grief, December 17 - December 23, 2017

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Coping with The Holidays: Suggested Resources, http://j.mp/2iRxyQr « Grief Healing

How this doctor deals with loss, http://j.mp/2DmzxFH « Kevin MD

What About the Body? http://j.mp/2DpuC78 « GriefPerspectives

Traumatic Loss: Needing To View The Body

A reader writes: I have spent hours reading over your articles and books, and I am just about to order another book for my son on the death of a sibling.

I don’t know if you remember me, but you helped me in a massive way last June. You gave me instant advice regarding my son who had gone missing in the sea following a climbing accident.

He was 26 and had almost qualified as a doctor.

My son had been deep water soloing when he disappeared, and although large-scale searches were started, there was little hope of finding him alive. Two weeks later we were informed that his body had been found, but the the coroner informed me that I wouldn’t be able to see him, as I desperately wanted to do. He told me he wouldn’t advise my seeing him in his condition, as his body had been in the sea for two weeks. He said he was not recognizable. He suggested that we go ahead and make funeral arrangements. Read on here >>>