Recovering from Losses in Life

by H. Norman Wright

Life is marked by a variety of losses, says certified trauma specialist H. Norman Wright. Some are life-changing, such as leaving home, the effects of natural disasters or war, the death of a loved one, or divorce. Others are subtle, such as changing jobs, moving, or a broken friendship. But whether readers encounter family, personal, or community disaster, there is always potential for change, growth, new insight, understanding, and refinement.

Writing from his own experience, Wright covers such issues as the meaning of grief, blaming God, and learning how to express and share in times of loss. Now repackaged and updated with additional material, Recovering from Losses in Life will help readers find hope in difficult times. Study questions included.

Genres: Self Help, Grief, Nonfiction, Psychology, Counselling, Christian Non Fiction, Christian Living

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

H. Norman Wright is a well-respected Christian counselor who has helped thousands of people improve their relationships and deal with grief, tragedy, and other concerns. He helps couples bring vibrancy to their relationships through counseling, seminars, and more than 90 books, including Before You Say “I Do” and After You Say “I Do.” Norm also reveals insights for spiritual growth, great relationships, and success in devotionals that include Strong to the Core, Quiet Times for Every Parent, and Truly Devoted: What Dogs Teach Us About Life, Love, and Loyalty. www.hnormanwright.com

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wouldn't have read this book, except I was required to for study, but I'm so glad I did. it gave me greater understanding in working through my own losses and being able to understand other's grief and losses. I recommend it to everyone - regardless of whether you consider yourself to be grieving or not!

[Karen Chivallati · Rating 2 out of 5]

For Christians Only

The book gave many helpful hints, but not everyone is Christian. I would have liked less Jesus and more real-world examples.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

After going through a heartbreaking break up, I read this book. It really helped me get through the hurt I experienced and helped me process through it. I highly recommend this book if you're going through a loss yourself or if you want to support someone you love that is experiencing a loss. I appreciated that the author recognized that loss goes beyond death or divorce but includes relationships of all types, dreams, jobs, pets, etc.

[Starlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful book, not just for those who have suffered losses, but also for those who have suffered trauma or repeated trauma. Spoke to why some are more heavily affected by trauma than others, and to why those who like to control their environment are hit hardest. I learned quite a it about myself by reading this book.

[Elizabeth (Liz) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has a lot of insight to help others and help one self recognize and face all the losses in life. I found particularly helpful the advise on recognizing those things that were never really addressed as losses and allowing oneself to grieve in order to move on.

[Jenny Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

suggest it to anyone in the grief process or wants to help someone who is

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great for grieving the significant losses that we experience along the way. The loss of our dreams stood out to me.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure I picked up this book because I am working on a project, and it was good research and for growth in helping others. I was also looking forward to it because I love the 101 questions to ask before getting engaged book, which is also by this author.

There were about 3 to 4 chapters towards the front that I felt very bored and was already well aware of the concepts and was getting nothing out of. I was also planning to use this book as a recommended resource as I teach and even told my sister-in-law, what a bummer it was because I didn’t think I’d be able to use it. I could not have been more wrong! I’m so glad that I kept reading because the chapters that followed are filled with lines from my highlighter!

This is an excellent resource! I highly recommend it. Even his explanation of trauma, which is a word which can be so overused, is exceptional and helps us understand the many ways that we experience trauma. He also recommends several other good resources for further study in any area that he touches on. The whole book is very balanced and helpful. It’s a difficult balance to strike with recognizing that we all grieve differently and need time but also don’t need to get stuck in our grief but need to keep moving forward. There’s even a part of the book that made me recognize a loss of a relationship that I need to deal with further with the Lord. This is an excellent book, and in a world where we are all touched by grief and loss, and there are so many books and articles that point us in the wrong direction, this one’s invaluable in its wisdom and practicality.

[Camille Bovee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is marked by a variety of losses, says certified trauma specialist H. Norman Wright. Some are life-changing, such as leaving home, the effects of natural disasters or war, the death of a loved one, or divorce. Others are subtle, such as changing jobs, moving, or a broken friendship. But whether readers encounter family, personal, or community disaster, there is always potential for change, growth, new insight, understanding, and refinement.

Writing from his own experience, Wright covers such issues as the meaning of grief, blaming God, and learning how to express and share in times of loss. Now repackaged and updated with additional material, Recovering from Losses in Life will help readers find hope in difficult times.

[L. Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a practical helpful guide on understanding and properly approaching grief from an experienced professional in the field. It is full of useful information, not only for people who are grieving, but also for anyone who cares enough to want to help someone else who is suffering from loss. The definition of what a loss is was one of the most beneficial items that could help many people who are still unaware of why they feel the way the do.
An added bonus is are discussion questions for small group use.

[Brian Virtue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gentle, honest, thorough, and grounded guide through all things grief and loss. Tone was just right. Theologically grounded, but not inaccessible. Helpful research integrated, but just helpful to the whole process. He wrote as one who has been through it once or twice so tone is gracious and pastoral. Loved the identity chapter. So not most theological or most clinical or most autobiographical of the dozen or so books in the genre I've read, but one of the most well rounded books that provides structure, shepherding, and hope to the griever.

[Jacob Rutledge · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is much to like about Wright’s material here. It is full of helpful information for those attempting to recover in from loss, not sure on how to process their grief responses. At the same time, I felt that the potential for the book was hampered by its disjointed writing style, organization, and lack of practical insights in each chapter. Overall worth reading to gain info on the topic, but I probably wouldn’t hand to someone as an aid through grief.

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, a good read, just not the best read for someone like me who is already acquainted with much of the psychology and statistics within. That said, it was a good read to force me to reflect on my losses, and I expect for others needing help dealing with grief and loss that are previously inexperienced with counseling knowledge in this area, this book might prove tremendously useful.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I especially liked the part of the book where he talked about the importance of acknowledging secondary losses in addition to the primary loss.
The book covers a whole spectrum of losses (health, jobs, death) and jumps around from each topic so it makes it challenging if your hoping to just focus on recovering from one type of loss.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loss is not just the death of a loved one. This book acknowledges that but is still very focused on grieving a death.
Opposite of many books I’ve read that provide Christian guidance, this one has all the good stuff in the 1st half of the book, then gets repetitive.

[Arup Das · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great help!

This book and its balanced perspectives and practical insights helped me deeply at a time of great confusion, distress and loss.

[Elisabeth Degen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, an incredible book for those who have experienced loss in any way.

[Nathaly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helped me understand a lot of things about grief. Still hate that I’m reading grief books.

[Rebekah Winslow · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this more than five stars I would. Very helpful, very encouraging. I highly recommend this.

[Lorrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for every human.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful.

H. Norman Wright, Recovering from Losses in Life (Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell, 2006).

“Unfortunately, many of us have become more proficient in developing denial than we are in facing and accepting the losses in life.”

“Whenever there is any kind of attachment, a loss cannot be avoided when the tie is broken.”

Children who have lived through rejection have an extreme emotional handicap and are like refugees without a home country who may see themselves as “outlaws” with deep self-depreciation and bitterness.

'Having faith' does not mean exemption from anger, fear or depression. But deep feelings do confirm that we are truly human. Especially note that often a person suffering loss has been blamed for it.

Grief is a process of letting go. If one cannot, for any reason, let go what is lost, then there will be no end to it.

[Vicki Pope · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been extremely influential to me to see all the layers of grief that I have needed to process in my life. It is not just about death. In fact, my first reality of how my failure to grieve impacted my mental health was when we moved from the city to the country. We WANTED to move. It was a GOOD thing. But I had boxes in my bedroom for 6 years because I just could not “move in” to our new house! This book showed me it was because I had not grieved the loss of our house in town, which I really loved! I have read this book three times over many years and gained new levels of insight each time!

[Sarai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lead a grief counseling group using this book and the curriculum that it also has. Have to admit one of my better classes. Book makes it easy to teach from and helps to supplement the curriculum. Highly recommend for anyone.

[Clarice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book about handling losses in life. Great book to understand my own valleys in life; also a great tool to better understand the changes in others life.

[Reggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every person on the planet should read this book. It is a primer of how to deal with all kinds of losses in life from the tiny to the insurmountable. I've read it three times.

[Glenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the authors that I like with regards to Christian counseling. Great book that deals with grieving, trauma, and losses in light of God's Word.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent author excellent book