It's ok that you're not ok: meeting grief and loss in a culture that doesn't understand

"In It's OK That You're Not OK, Megan Devine offers a profound new approach to both the experience of grief and the way we try to help others who have endured tragedy. Having experienced grief from both sides--as both a therapist and as a woman who witnessed the accidental drowning of her beloved partner--Megan writes with deep insight about the unspoken truths of loss, love, and healing. She debunks the culturally prescribed goal of returning to a normal, 'happy' life, replacing it with a far healthier middle path, one that invites us to build a life alongside grief rather than seeking to overcome it. In this compelling and heartful book, you'll learn: Why well-meaning advice, therapy, and spiritual wisdom so often end up making it harder for people in grief. How challenging the myths of grief--doing away with stages, timetables, and unrealistic ideals about how grief should unfold--allows us to accept grief as a mystery to be honored instead of a problem to solve. Practical guidance for managing stress, improving sleep, and decreasing anxiety without trying to 'fix' your pain. How to help the people you love--with essays to teach us the best skills, checklists, and suggestions for supporting and comforting others through the grieving process. Many people who have suffered a loss feel judged, dismissed, and misunderstood by a culture that wants to 'solve' grief. Megan writes, 'Grief no more needs a solution than love needs a solution.' Through stories, research, life tips, and creative and mindfulness-based practices, she offers a unique guide through an experience we all must face--in our personal lives, in the lives of those we love, and in the wider world"--Amazon.com.