Chelsea Hanson - The Sudden Loss Survival Guide: Seven Essential Practices for Healing Grief (Bereavement, Suicide, for Readers of Together)

Praise for The Sudden Loss Survival Guide

Any loss is difficult. Sudden loss can be doubly so. That is why this book is so vital. As the title tells us, this is a survival guide. At a time when you think you cant go on, this remarkable book will show you how you can and why you must. And, it does so in a very easy-to-get, gentle, comforting, and heartfelt way. Exactly what you need at this overwhelm ing time.

Allen Klein, author of Embracing Life After Loss

When you have a loss that changes everything, this handbook serves as a gentle, steadfast companion on your most difficult days to guide you from pain and suffering to living again with new, profound meaning. Filled with effective and practical coping strategies, The Sudden Loss Survival Guide provides a path to healing for anyone navigating the unfamiliar grounds of su dden loss.

Using Chelsea Hansons Seven Essential Grief Healing Practicesa process to transform, heal, and transcend griefyou are led from brokenness to wholeness to not only survive grief, but also grow and evolve over time. This easy-to-read, how-to-heal guide will not only soothe your spirit, but also give you a life-affirming plan to rebuild your shattered world. From her hard-earned wisdom of losing her parents and as a counselor to many grievers, Hanson knows the art of healing and leads you there in this must-read book. Youll learn to not be defined by your loss, but by your continuing love for the person who died.

Tom Stone, founder and chairman of Inner Greatness Global and author of Pure Awareness, The Power of How, Vaporize Your Anxiety, and Emotion al Mastery

As a grief counselor, I am a firm believer in learning about what is normal in grief, so we can know what reactions we might expect and what we can do to manage them more effectively in ways that foster healing and growth. This Survival Guide is a treasure trove of useful tools, practical suggestions, and helpful practices which, bundled together in an immensely readable format, will serve as a reliable road map to living through and finding meaning in signific ant loss.

Marty Tousley, RN, MS, FT, author of Finding Your Way through Grief: A Guide for the First Year

In this beautiful book of love and light, Chelsea Hanson offers the practice of reconnecting with a loved one in the spiritual realm to continue the relationship in a new, different way. This essential aspect to healing is often missing in traditional grief support books, and Hanson teaches it in a way that anyone can understand and apply. Youll be inspired to believe that you can connect to the spirit of your beloved and use the eternal, unbreakable bond of love to heal.

Reverend Maggie Chula, author of Open the Doorway to Your Soul

Chelseas losses have transformed her into a courageous, compassionate teacher for all of us. Wisdom and encouragement jump from the pages to inspire hope and healing. This book is an essential guide for navigating the difficult journey of grief.

Todd Nigro, founder of E llies Way

Grief is a universal experience. Sooner or later, we all experience grief. When its triggered by an unexpected loss, its doubly difficult to handle. Chelsea Hansons new book, The Sudden Loss Survival Guide , is the perfect resource for anyone suddenly confronted with the loss of a loved one. Read it and weeptears of love and healing.

BJ Gallagher, coauthor of Your Life Is Y our Prayer

Clear, light, and instructive, The Sudden Loss Survival Guide empowers us to take small steps on the path from grief and loss to compassionate acceptance. With gentle and loving wisdom, Chelsea Hansons inward nurturance of her own grieving heart reminds us of our capacity to experience sorrow yet continue our connection to love and light. An intuitive guide of perseverance, renewal, and ultimatel y growth.

Bridgitte Jackson-Buckley, author of The Gift of Crisis

A wonderful resource that provides many useful tools! Chelsea Hanson has created a heart-centered guide to working through the many aspects of grief. The exercises are engaging and will touch your soul, helping you to release your griefone layer at a time. Take the time to read each chapter and allow it to speak to your heart and allow it to help you heal.

Lori Pederson, founder of I Did Not Know W hat to Say

The Sudden Loss Survival Guide is a must-read guidebook for everyone who has experienced an unexpected loss of any kind in their life. Chelsea Hanson introduces her readers to the Seven Rsan innovative and in-depth process for healing grief. Chelseas simple-to-read approach helps anyone experiencing the grief brain better navigate the immediate aftermath of unexpected loss. There are a variety of loss-related topics (e.g. understanding sorrow, letting go, fostering a support system, discovering purpose after loss, and many more) as well as healing concepts, actionable exercises, and reflections that are perfect for someone who has experienced an unexpected loss of any kind. Chelsea becomes the readers personal cheerleader, lifting and supporting them during one of their most difficult times. This book is a wonderful reminder that grief is not insurmountable, and with courage and action you can move through it in o ne piece.

Sharon Ehlers, Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist and author of G rief Reiki

The

Sudden
LOSS
Survival Guide

7 Essential Practices

for Healing Grief

Chelsea Hanson

Co ral Gables

Copyright 202o by Chelsea Hanson.

Published by Mango Publishing Group, a division of Mango Media Inc.

Cover Design: Roberto Nuez

illustration: Adobe stock/ MicroOne

Layout & Design: Liz Hong

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Mango Publishing Group

2850 S Douglas Road, 2nd Floor

Coral Gables, FL 33134 USA

For special orders, quantity sales, course adoptions and corporate sales, please email the publisher at or +1.800.509.4887.

The Sudden Loss Survivial Guide: 7 Essential Practices

for Healing Grief

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication number: 2020933490

ISBN: (p) 978-1-64250-228-2 (e) 978-1-64250-229-9

BISAC category code FAM014000, FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Death, Grief, Bereavement

Printed in the United States of America

In honor of my parents

Donna Olson (19351996)

Ken Olson (19311972)

And dedicated to you, the sudden loss survivor

We dont look to the heavens

to see what we have lost

but to remember those

who have found peace.

Table of Contents

Loss and grief catch us by surprise, even when we know that, at some point, we will know them and need a plan to guide us through and beyond their hold. The Sudden Loss Survival Guide is one of those indispensable guides for th e journey.

When my husband died, I didnt expect to feel totally annihilated, as if blown into scattered, irretrievable bits. Because he was older, I understood the possibility I would outlive him. But I mistakenly believed his death would merely bring great sadness because of how much Id miss him. At first, I thought he would come back to me, so I went to sleep with my hand extended in the air waiting for him to pull me toward him. When I woke up morning after morning to find myself still here, I thought I should go to him. I researched suicide but couldnt bear the thought of causing pain for those I love. I decided to live instead. Then came the hard part. How to create and live a life wi thout him.