Overcome Sadness

The conventional view of grieving - encapsulated by the famous five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance - is defined by a mourning process that we can only hope to accept and endure. In The Other Side of Sadness, psychologist and emotions expert George Bonanno argues otherwise. Our inborn emotions - anger and denial, but also relief and joy - help us deal effectively with loss. To expect or require only grief-stricken behavior from the bereaved does them harm.

When children lose a loved one, they often struggle to process their emotions. I Can Overcome My Sadness is a heartfelt story that comforts and uplifts, helping kids understand their feelings in a meaningful way.

Depression and loneliness come and go. It is not uncommon for them to occur together, as depression causes people to isolate themselves, withdraw, and generally feel alone. Likewise, people who are alone in life (such as the elderly, shut-ins, prisoners, and people who are generally shy) may experience bouts of depression. Regardless of which causes the other, the reality is that you cannot avoid the problem and hope it goes away. While feelings of loneliness and depression may lessen with time, they usually return.