Newly Widowed, Now Socially Awkward: Facing Interpersonal Challenges After Loss

As a new widow, I expected profound sadness, but was thrown off-guard by changing relationships and unexpected social awkwardness. I was upset with well-meaning people who: · offered “words of wisdom” · compared their prior losses to mine · introduced me as a widow before I was ready · failed to include me · assumed I’d be back on my feet after a year I was upset with myself for: · seeking too much sympathy · asking for help too often · responding unhappily to invitations · telling my story of loss to strangers · sharing the worst side of me with my closest friends In 45 essays, two voices describe the social challenges I encountered. My personal voice is overwhelmed with grief and my changing identity while my voice as a psychologist attempts to identify “what I can do for myself” to cope and move on.