Grief: The Inside Story - A Guide to Surviving the Loss of a Loved One

by Pat Bertram

Coping with the death of a loved one can be the most traumatic and stressful situation most people ever deal with - and the practical and emotional help available to the bereaved is often very poor. As the bereaved struggle to make sense of their new situation they often find that the advice they receive is produced by medical professionals who have never personally experienced grief; and filled with platitudes and clichés, with very little practical help. How long does grief last? What can I do to help myself? Are there really five stages of grief? Why can't other people understand how I feel? Will I ever be happy again? Pat Bertram debunks many established beliefs about what grief is, how it affects those left behind, and how to adjust to a world that no longer contains your loved one.

156 pages, Paperback

Published May 30, 2025

About the author

Pat Bertram is the author of the suspense novels MADAME ZEEZEE'S NIGHTMARE, UNFINISHED, LIGHT BRINGER, DAUGHTER AM I, MORE DEATHS THAN ONE, and A SPARK OF HEAVENLY FIRE. Bertram is also the author of GRIEF: THE GREAT YEARNING, “an exquisite book, wrenching to read, and at the same time full of profound truths.”

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-researched, honestly experienced, and generously shared, Pat Bertram’s book about grief lands clearly and wonderfully in that gap between self-help’s “Do this” and faith’s “Believe in this.” Whatever we believe and whatever we strive to do, the death of a life mate will result in grief, and grief will result in a journey through many emotions; physical, mental and social trials; and lonely steps. With this book, the bereft might find that most precious gift of knowing they’re not alone, they’re not abnormal, and they’re not going to feel this way forever: An invaluable resource, both for the bereaved and for those so helplessly trying to relate to them.

I’ve read a number of self-help books based on blogs, and I know this book is, in part, based on the author’s blog. But the blend of personal and shared experience, careful research, and well-rounded reading, plus the author’s smoothly honest writing voice, make this book stand far above them all. It’s not a blog-book; it’s not self-help so much as self-revealing; and it’s a powerful, generous, shared presentation of real life, lessons learned, and encouragement for the future. I'm so glad to have been given the chance to learn these things before grief takes me to them. And this book is highly recommended.

Disclosure: The author shared this book with me, and I voluntarily offer my honest review.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if our grief journey mirrors the quest pattern? That makes infinite sense to me.