Grieving As a Young Adult
By Surviving Grief:
How To Support Your Grieving Friends On Big Days
Articles
Supporting Students Coping With Grief
Successful Children Who Lost a Parent
Summary: Written with the perspective of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, this article takes a deep dive into the world of 'successful' adults who lost a parent during childhood. While many articles exist that highlight the negative outcomes of losing a parent so young, this one takes a different approach, illuminating the 'eminent orphans' effect, a category designed to include those "who are on their own... forced to persist, to invent, to chart their own way".
Books
Summary: "Elizabeth DeVita-Raeburn's The Empty Room is a very welcome addition to the scant literature on sibling loss. In telling her own story, as well as the stories of those she interviewed for the book, DeVita-Raeburn draws us into the experience of both children and adults who have lost a brother or sister. It amazes me that sibling loss continues to go unrecognized as the potentially life-changing event that it is. Here's a book that acknowledges that pain and will help survivors begin to heal."
Summary: Losing our parents when we ourselves are adults is in the natural order of things, a rite of passage into true adulthood. But whether we lose them suddenly or after a prolonged illness, and whether we were close to or estranged from them, this passage proves inevitably more difficult than we thought it would be. From the recognition of our own mortality and sudden child-like sorrow to a sometimes-subtle change in identity or shift of roles in the surviving family, The Orphaned Adult guides readers through the storm of change this passage brings and anchors them with its compassionate and reassuring wisdom.
Summary: "Claire Bidwell Smith, an only child, is just fourteen years old when both of her charismatic parents are diagnosed with cancer. What follows is a coming-of-age story that is both heartbreaking and exhilarating. As Claire hurtles towards loss she throws herself at anything she thinks might help her cope with the weight of this harsh reality: boys, alcohol, traveling, and the anonymity of cities like New York and Los Angeles. By the time she is twenty-five years old both her parents are gone and Claire is very much alone in the world. Claire's story is less of a tragic tale and more of a remarkable lesson on how to overcome some of life's greatest hardships. Written with suspense and style, and bursting with love and adventure, The Rules of Inheritance vividly captures the deep grief and surprising light of a young woman forging ahead on a journey of loss that humbled, strengthened, and ultimately healed her."
Movies
TV Shows
Podcasts
"Gratitude, Guilt, & Grief" - Ty Alexander (July 7th, 2020)
"What does it mean to choose joy and gratitude when you're in the depths of grief? For Ty Alexander, joy and gratitude became her two main survival strategies after her mother died of cancer when Ty was in her 20's. Now, as a wellness blogger, podcast host (Self Care IRL), and author of the book, "Things I Wish I Knew Before My Mom Died," Ty helps others struggling with grief (and life) find ways to make room for joy and gratitude, while still honoring the people who have died and the pain of the loss."
Organizations
An online tool brought to you by Winston’s Wish that offers advice and tips on coping with grief, resources and reading lists. It aims to help young people who have experienced the death of a loved one come to terms with their loss. Also offers a live chat service and hotline, Winston’s Wish Crisis Messenger text service is available 24/7 – text WW to 85258.