Surviving the Death of a Sibling: Living Through Grief When an Adult Brother or Sister Dies

WhenT.J.Wraylosther43-year-oldbrother,hergriefwasdeepandenduringand,shesoondiscovered,notfullyacknowledged.Despitethelongevityofadultsiblingrelationships,survivingsiblingsareoftenmadetofeelasiftheirgriefissomehowunwarranted.Afterall,whenanadultsiblingdies,heorsheoftenleavesbehindparents,aspouse,andevenchildren—allofwhomsufferamoresociallyrecognizedtypeofloss.Basedontheauthor'sownexperiences,aswellasthoseofmanyothers,SurvivingtheDeathofaSiblinghelpsadultswhohavelostabrotherorsistertorealizethattheyarenotaloneintheirstruggle.Justasimportant,itteachesthemtounderstandtheuniquestagesoftheirgrievingprocess,offeringpracticalandprescriptiveadvicefordealingwitheachstage.InSurvivingtheDeathofaSibling,T.J.Wraydiscusses:•Searchingforandfindingmeaninginyoursibling'spassing•Usingagriefjournaltorecordyouremotions•Choosingagriefpartnertohelpyouthroughtoughtimes•DealingwithinsensitiveremarksmadebyothersWarmandpersonal,andarichsourceofusefulinsightsandcopingstrategies,SurvivingtheDeathofaSiblingisauniqueadditiontotheliteratureofbereavement.