Review:
In Unattended Sorrow: Recovering from Loss and Reviving the Heart, Stephen Levine defined loss as more than loss from death; loss can come from a loss of faith, love, trust, or dignity. These losses accumulate over time. Mr. Levine expressed unintegrated sorrow can affect people cognitively, physically, and emotionally. He stated that the accumulation of losses harden the heart. Once the losses have been accepted and integrated individuals can begin to live more fully. He argued that facing these losses with compassion and mercy allows healing to begin. Mr. Levine specified three stages in handling sorrow: softening the pain, promoting mercy, and making peace with our sorrow (Levine, 2005).