How Is She Doing
Words used to describe grieving people often measure them in terms of how well they are doing rather than how they are feeling. “How is our mutual friend doing after the death of her mother?” “She is doing really well. She is back to work and looks really good.” Or, “She is a mess. Really not doing well at all. She is having a hard time getting through the day.”
Could “doing really well” mean she is presenting well so others will not worry about her? Could “really not doing well” mean she is expressing the appropriate feelings for this profound loss?
Perhaps how we speak of those who grieve could describe our understanding of how their feeling and functioning are related. “She is struggling to get her work done, but that is certainly understandable given how much she loved her mom and how sad she is.”
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Getting Grief Right
by Dr. Patrick O'Malley
A masterpiece that will touch your heart and soul with healing powers. • A compassionate, wise, and practical guide • A must read for anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one.
DR. PATRICK O’MALLEY
Grief Therapist
Dr. Patrick O’Malley is a psychotherapist in Fort Worth, Texas, who specializes in grief counseling. For 40 years, he has counseled individuals, couples and families
in his private practice.
AS SEEN IN THE:
Getting Grief Right
by Dr. Patrick O'Malley
By the time Mary came to see me, six months after losing her daughter to sudden infant death syndrome, she had hired and fired two other therapists. She was trying to get her grief right...
