Does anyone have any suggestions for self help grief counseling? I am really struggling with a family loss.?

I am my father's only child. He died 10 days ago at age 57, completely unexpected, of an apparent heart attack. We were very close. I am having a very hard time functioning with daily life and getting back to work, etc. I realize it has only been a short period of time, but I feel so completely lost, despite the hundreds of people (both family and friends) that have extended offers of help, etc. If I do daily functions and try to get back to normal, I suddenly realize he's gone again and the grief takes over. Any books? Any other words of advice?

I am so sorry for your loss. We are still struggling with the loss of my husband's brother who died in March at the age of 45. It is perfectly normal to have tearful moments this soon after a death of a loved one. Time is the only thing that will completely heal the hurt.

In the meantime, the best thing to do is to remember the good times you had and keep a box of kleenex nearby. If after a month or two you still find yourself with bouts of tears, it would be a good idea to find a local bereavement support group.

Sometimes you just have to feel the emotions hun. Keep up with your normal life, it's always a bit catching when you realize someone isn't there. When my brother died I lost all ability to focus. I'll still be driving somewhere, riding, walking, whatever and it'll occur to me "huh, that's right...he's not here". It hurts a little less every month, the hurt never goes away, you just learn to manage it.

Try focusing on all the fun things, don't be afraid to talk to people about him. I'd start crying midway through a sentence at times but, it always made me feel better.

Dear Christina. the loss of a loved one is a terrible emotion to have to endure. There is a beautiful story about a dragonfly written by Sir Walter Dudley Cavert. You can find it on the web. It brought a great deal of solace to me.. You can go to the Dragonfly Project website also. I carry this around with me all of the time as it has helped me through some very dark periods of life. Best wishes to you