Can Anyone Tell Me? - by Meghan Riordan Jarvis (Paperback)

About the Book

"A leading grief expert answers some of the most frequently asked questions about grief and loss, offering hopeful real-world lessons. If you've experienced the trauma of loss, you might find yourself struggling with the "whys" of grief: Why can't I remember anything? Why can't I sleep? Why do I feel angry and isolated? Why do I suddenly dislike my friends? Psychotherapist and grief specialist Meghan Riordan Jarvis shares a research-based resource filled with clinical insights and practical steps toward navigating loss with Can Anyone Tell Me?"--

Book Synopsis

From psychotherapist and leading grief expert Meghan Riordan Jarvis comes answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about grief, offering hopeful real-world lessons and practical steps for navigating loss.

If you've experienced the trauma of loss, you might find yourself struggling with the "whys" of grief: Why can't I remember anything? Why can't I sleep? Why do I feel angry and isolated? Why do I suddenly dislike my friends? Psychotherapist and grief specialist Meghan Riordan Jarvis shares a research-based resource filled with clinical insights to these questions and more, along with practical steps for navigating loss. "Though each experience is unique, we all grieve in our bodies," says Meghan. "By recognizing grief as a kind of trauma, we better understand why our mind and body respond in sometimes perplexing ways to loss."

In this accessible guide, Meghan provides the answers you're seeking on the grieving process, offering profound real-world stories and hopeful lessons, informed by neuroscience and biophysical science. Whether you're grieving or are supporting someone who's going through loss, you'll find valuable insight. From sorting through the physical materials left behind to honoring the experience of continuing bonds, Meghan breaks things down into manageable bites as a series of commonly asked questions on the brain, body, emotions, sense of self, relationships, timeline expectations, and how to get the right support. Here you'll explore:

- Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the grieving process
- Explanations for what you're going through
- Guidance, tips, support, and practice ideas for grievers and their support network
- For grievers: assessment of symptoms and history with loss
- For supporters: potential offerings for support that feel most authentic
- Ways to engage and move through the experience

Grief and loss are inevitable parts of life. What you're going through is normal, and becoming grief-informed will help you begin to feel less confused and alone. Whether you're currently grieving or are looking to support a loved one, here is guidance to uncover the answers to why and discover what you can do to help.

Review Quotes

"Can Anyone Tell Me? offers hope for some of grief's most difficult challenges--namely, how to navigate all the change that comes with big loss. Foremost a needed and informative guide, this book addresses topics such as grief's effects on the brain and the body and how grief can complicate everything from functioning to relationships. This book is for anyone looking for solace, truth, and wisdom about navigating some of life's deepest losses." --Claire Bidwell Smith, LCPC, author of Conscious Grieving

"No one tells us that grief will physically hurt, that loss is an experience in the very tissues of our being. Meghan Jarvis goes beyond telling us how it feels by giving us tools to use as we navigate its impact." --Mary-Frances O'Connor, PhD, author of The Grieving Brain

"There is no universal blueprint for navigating the landscape of grief. Meghan Riordan Jarvis's book Can Anyone Tell Me? is a practical and personal reference that contains wisdom, explanations, personal experience, and tactical answers that can help all of us feel less overwhelmed, scared, and alone in the universal journey of loss. It's an invaluable guide for everyone at this place in life." --Lee Woodruff, coauthor of the bestselling In an Instant

"Meghan Jarvis provides much-needed information about what to expect from grief--something people rarely talk about. This is the book I would have loved to have read when I lost my husband. It helps make the pain of grief make more sense." --Amy Morin, author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do

"If you're human, you've experienced loss. But most of us don't know how to deal with it and end up feeling isolated and confused. Thankfully, Meghan Jarvis has taken her decades as a trauma therapist--along with wisdom gained from her own deep personal loss--and created a comprehensive and relatable resource for grievers and their loved ones that answers questions you've wanted to ask, offers actionable suggestions you've been craving, makes you feel sane and seen, and, above all, provides a voice of hope at life's hardest time." --Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone and cohost of the Dear Therapists podcast

"In this wonderful, practical guidebook, grief therapist Meghan Riordan Jarvis anticipates and answers all the questions grievers (and the people who support them) might have--about what's happening to them, why it's happening, and what actions they can take to move forward through their grief. She pairs scientific explanations with personal stories from herself and her clients, and offers up a clear and compassionate guide to help the griever build their own personal grief practice. This book is an invaluable tool for grievers and the people who support them." --Colin Campbell, author of Finding the Words

"This book is the perfect resource for anyone grieving. In my line of work, I'm always being asked for resources for grief, and Meghan Riordan Jarvis is always my first thought. This practical resource will give some much-needed relief to the bereaved." --Julie McFadden, RN, hospice nurse and online educator

"Life keeps teaching us that questions hold more energy than answers. Meghan's book is a treasure trove of vulnerable human inquiries regarding acknowledgement and acceptance. She's holding our hand, offering ways to trust in grief, in all its sacred forms, and allow it to heal us." --Elena Brower, bestselling author of Softening Time and Practice You

"Meghan Riordan Jarvis has given us a down-to-earth, practical, and much-needed how-to for what is a complicated and unpredictable journey after loss. We have all been there, wishing we had a warm and empathetic manual to show us the way after loss--this is it! Thankfully, in this book, no grief stone is left unturned." --Gina Moffa, LCSW, therapist and author of Moving On Doesn't Mean Letting Go

"Meghan Riordan Jarvis is a guiding light through grief and loss. Can Anyone Tell Me? is an essential resource to support your way toward well-being. I've personally massively benefited from Meghan's work, and I'm so thrilled this guide will support so many people who are also suffering." --Tara Stiles, founder of Strala Yoga

"Grief is a wildly individual experience. Meghan Jarvis knows this firsthand. In Can Anyone Tell Me? her wealth of knowledge and gentle guidance shine through on every page. It's one of the most comprehensive and accessible books about loss I've ever read. I'll be recommending it to clients, and those who support them, for years to come." --Hope Edelman, grief coach and author of Motherless Daughters

"An essential tool for anyone searching for a way forward. This book will illuminate and inspire." --Tembi Locke, producer, actress, and New York Times bestselling author of From Scratch

"In Can Anyone Tell Me? Meghan Riordan Jarvis provides invaluable information and insights toward understanding the multitude of layers that make up grief. While everyone's grief journey is unique and complex, Meghan's lessons are useful for all grievers and will help people to feel whole again." --Luke Russert, Emmy Award-winning journalist and bestselling author of Look for Me There

About the Author

Meghan Riordan Jarvis, MA, LCSW, is a podcast host, TEDx speaker, and trauma-informed psychotherapist specializing in grief and loss. With 20 years of experience, she speaks on the importance of understanding grief and supporting grievers. Meghan hosts the popular blog and podcast Grief Is My Side Hustle and offers a free writing workshop, Grief Mates. She is also the author of End of the Hour, a memoir on trauma, loss, and healing. For more, visit meghanriordanjarvis.com.