The Gift of Second

by Brandy Lidbeck

After a suicide, loved ones painfully struggle to make sense of the unexplainable tragedy. The Gift of Second comes alongside loss survivors and helps navigate the common pitfalls for those left behind. It offers encouragement and hope to guide survivors through this desperate time.

In The Gift of Second, you will:
- Explore the ins and outs of grief trauma
- Release the guilt and shame survivors carry
- Recognize how to take care of yourself
- Gain practical tips for enduring the first year
- Discover what helps other survivors
- Determine when to seek professional help
- Stop replaying the past and blaming yourself
- START healing in a healthy way

Genres: Grief, Self Help, Nonfiction

116 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2016

About the author

Brandy Lidbeck is a licensed marriage and family therapist, as well as a two-time survivor of suicide loss. She is the founder of thegiftofsecond.com, a website created for suicide loss survivors. Brandy has a heart for those who know the pain suicide brings and wants all survivors to experience healing in spite of the sorrow.

Reviews

[Linn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this an easy to read, helpful resource. I do not have personal experience with someone close dying by suicide but wanted to have a resource for those who do, or if I ever need it.

[Slbarto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy read and a good book to read when you've lost someone you love to suicide. It's especially a good one to read in the early days. I am going to be encouraging my family to read this one as I think it helps identify normal thoughts and emotions and it's important for people to understand they aren't alone in their reactions and feelings.

[Ashley Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally a good book for people who have lost someone to suicide. A few clinical pitfalls (such as only listing one evidence based treatments for PTSD when there are a few more that are more commonly used now than EMDR).

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was full of helpful information in the healing process of surviving a suicide loss. If nothing else, read chapter 2.

[Mary Cummings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and to-the-point. Good resource for those in the immediate aftermath of a loved one's suicide.

[Kiki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comforting and reassuring. Many good thoughts and suggestions for family friends and loved ones who have lost a loved one to suicide.

[Wmba Dams · Rating 1 out of 5]

Content not especially useful, at least to me, but is short as there is not that much to say about the subject; and you can skip over specialized chapters you do not care about. Glad it was not one of those tomes that rambled on saying nothing but trying to impress the reader with the quantity of words.

Writing is at the good amateur level. About 2 stars. Content 3 stars, compared to others 4 stars. But far from 5 star.
WENT TO HER WEBSITE AND FOUND NOTHING BUT AN AD FOR HER BOOK AND COLLECTING NAMES/EMAILS TO SPAM YOU WITH. THERE IS NO USEFUL CONTENT THERE!! SO REVISED THE RATING DOWN TO 1 STAR.

The book itself is better than some others I have read on the subject but is not the answer. Maybe there is no answer.

Faster easier to read the book than to attend a seminar/class for weeks that had even less help than the book.

It has a list of some resources, many different from other books and their lists. Perhaps these resources come and go so the newer the book the more accurate the list. I have not checked any of them. But I note one highly hyped resource listed elsewhere is absent.

Paperback well manufactured. No problems with pages falling out while I read it.
About 116 pages. About 20 were fluff including the partial list of some resources.

What was of value could be condensed into an executive summary using about 4 pages.
The book chapters could be cut slightly over half with no loss.

[Debra L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent for suicide survivors. Seems to deal with all aspects. I am trying to cope with the recent suicide of my husband and found this book very comforting. It helped me realise that the things I am going through are normal reactions. Also helped with the guilt factor, which is a part of losing someone to suicide. I will keep this book and read it when I need a boost, as the grieving process will be long.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Book

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I just lost a dear friend to suicide and I felt extremely lost, hurt, and confused. This book has helped me to navigate these first few weeks of grieving. I’m sure I’ll read it a few more times as I continue on this journey.

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh, no one wants to have to deal with the aftermath of suicide, but this book is helpful, especially to normalize what the victim's family and friends are going through and to remind you to take care of yourself and let yourself grieve and fall apart and laugh and not take responsibility.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good resource on dealing with grief after losing someone to suicide. This book does a good job at discussing how each person deals differently with grief. I highly recommend it to others.

[Claire Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most helpful resource I’ve found in the last year and a half. Highly recommend.

[Krystal Kaiser · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read it for a class. I think if I was going through this,it is very insightful.

[Jennifer Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you or someone you know has been impacted by suicide, this is what you have been looking for. It is comprehensive, kind, and full of sound wisdom. Brandy has taken her own experience after losing her mother to suicide, her knowledge as a licensed therapist, and her observations found through running the site, and she has put all of this wisdom into this book. I was so glad to read Brandy's kind and refreshing words around the subject of suicide. Brandy writes about grief, guilt, shame, trauma, finding the right therapy, how to talk about the loss, and forgiveness. As I read, I was so impressed how comprehensive Brandy's book was. I couldn't think of a subject pertaining to suicide that was not covered. After losing my brother, I read a half-dozen books related to suicide loss. I was dismayed to find that many of the books were just plain weird. Some of the books were overtly gory in the details they shared. Brandy is very cautious about not sharing details that could trigger anyone into feelings of post-traumatic stress. Her book is a safe place to process your feelings, and it is written in the voice of a sympathetic friend with professional, sound advice for healing. If you have suffered a loss in your life through suicide, I whole-heartedly recommend this book. If you know someone who has experienced this type of loss, this is a suitable, comprehensive book to gift them. If you are on staff at a church, I would highly recommend keeping this book on your shelf to give families who come for funerals or counseling after a suicide loss. I know this book will impact many lives, and I thank God that He lead Brandy to create it. http://amzn.to/2g1mbq9