Longing for Dad: Father Loss and Its Impact

by Beth M. Erickson

Whether you lost your father through death or divorce, or you wished he would have said "I love you" instead of merely being a good provider, you may harbor unresolved hurt in your soul. When denied meaningful contact with our fathers, either physically or emotionally, a gaping hole or "father hunger" emerges in the child's psyche. If left unfulfilled, this "father hunger" triggers pronounced psychological patterns consigning that child to personal and professional dead-ends as an adult. Father hunger manifests itself in many workaholism, substance abuse, chronic depression, sexual promiscuity, violent behavior, food addiction, and an inability to sustain intimate relationships. Dr. Beth Erickson shows you how to identify, validate and heal the pain surrounding father loss and explore the spiritual crises that unresolved loss such as this generates. By sharing compelling case studies of men and women, and her own personal struggle to accept her father's death, she guides you through the healing process. After reading the dialogues and completing the exercises, you will fill the hole in your soul and emerge from the journey at peace with yourself and your relationships with your father.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1998

Reviews

[Ghazalehsadr · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of this book is VERY misleading and inappropriate! I bought this book thinking it will be about losing a father, but it is in fact about everything other than that! This book is for people who DID have a father but the father was abusive or divorced from the mother or emotionally distant or a drug addict, etc. Death of the father is briefly mentioned but again only in the context of it happening during the person’s childhood. Not useful for me at all. I wish the writer had chosen an accurate title for her book.

[Adam Falkenberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok read. I did get something out of it and learned something about my own father loss. Found the part on spiritual issues condescending and mostly dumb however. I disagreed with much of that section.

[Anna Sholtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book when it was lent to me from my therapist. I felt it was very insightful and informative, especially for someone like me. The dates listed are from when I bought it myself and read it again.
My parents divorced when I was 12, and my relationship with my father has been strained ever since. It was very one sided, he wasn’t there when I needed him, and our get togethers were always on his terms. Then finally, when I got my first house, there was an incident with my dogs running away, and he abruptly left without doing anything to help or even saying goodbye. It was too much for him, and he couldn’t handle emotions or anything serious.
Anyway, before I get too much into my issues, this book was very fitting for me. Some parts were better than others, since the author herself lost her father to death, I felt that type of loss was more touched on than any other form. It is so much harder when he chooses not to be a part of his child’s life, and the child has to grow up knowing that their father just doesn’t care about them. I’m not sure if the author really realizes that or expanded on it. I’m planning on reading the book again to get some more insight and refresh my memory of it.