It's Ok That You're Not Ok: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand

by Megan Devine

Book Overview

As seen in THE NEW YORK TIMES - READER'S DIGEST - SPIRITUALITY & HEALTH - HUFFPOST

Featured on NPR's RADIO TIMES and WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO

When a painful loss or life-shattering event upends your world, here is the first thing to know: there is nothing wrong with grief. "Grief is simply love in its most wild and painful form," says Megan Devine. "It is a natural and sane response to loss."

So, why does our culture treat grief like a disease to be cured as quickly as possible?

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.

It's OK That You're Not OK is a book for grieving people, those who love them, and all those seeking to love themselves--and each other--better.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1622039076
• ISBN13: 9781622039074
• Release Date: October 2017
• Publisher: Sounds True
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Helpful

The biggest thing I got out of this book is that I wasn't losing my mind and everyone's grief will be different. It helped me to be kinder and more patient with myself.

Finally! Validation for grief.

Megan sees the reality of grief. No dismissal, no platitudes… just sits with you in the pain and acknowledges the difficulty of finding support in times of loss.

Made me feel sane

Easy and quick to read, this book comforted me when my dad died by making me feel sane. Because I like it, and because there isn't a "right" thing to say when someone is grieving, I've gifted it to every person I know experiencing loss. Great book for outsiders trying to understand a person's grief too.

The best book on grief.

For anyone who has lost a loved one ....the first years are uncharted. Megan has written this book for those who are lost in this abyss of sorrow. I recommended without hesitation. A very thoughtful gift to bring a friend or loved one experiencing loss. ♡