Christine Rifenburgh: Difference between revisions
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== Early Life and Education: == | |||
Christine was born and raised in a small town in New Hampshire as the second of five siblings. Raised by her mother, a single parent, she learned resilience and determination from an early age. Despite facing personal challenges, Christine earned her G.E.D. and graduated at the top of her class in nursing school as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). | Christine was born and raised in a small town in New Hampshire as the second of five siblings. Raised by her mother, a single parent, she learned resilience and determination from an early age. Despite facing personal challenges, Christine earned her G.E.D. and graduated at the top of her class in nursing school as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). | ||
Her passion for helping others deepened through her early career in healthcare, where she initially aspired to become a registered nurse. Later, driven by personal experiences with loss and a growing commitment to mental health, she pursued higher education, earning an Associate’s degree, a Bachelor’s in Human Services, and a Master’s in Social Work. | Her passion for helping others deepened through her early career in healthcare, where she initially aspired to become a registered nurse. Later, driven by personal experiences with loss and a growing commitment to mental health, she pursued higher education, earning an Associate’s degree, a Bachelor’s in Human Services, and a Master’s in Social Work. | ||
== Personal Life and Loss: == | |||
Christine has been married for more than 30 years and is the mother of three daughters, as well as a grandmother to one granddaughter and two grandsons. | Christine has been married for more than 30 years and is the mother of three daughters, as well as a grandmother to one granddaughter and two grandsons. | ||
In 2011, she experienced the devastating loss of her younger brother Francis, who died by suicide. This tragedy profoundly shaped her life’s direction, inspiring her to seek counseling, connect with support groups, and ultimately dedicate her career to helping other suicide loss survivors. | In 2011, she experienced the devastating loss of her younger brother Francis, who died by suicide. This tragedy profoundly shaped her life’s direction, inspiring her to seek counseling, connect with support groups, and ultimately dedicate her career to helping other suicide loss survivors. | ||
== Career and Advocacy: == | |||
Christine’s work blends professional expertise with deeply personal insight. For more than 11 years, she co-facilitated support groups designed specifically for individuals who lost loved ones to suicide. | Christine’s work blends professional expertise with deeply personal insight. For more than 11 years, she co-facilitated support groups designed specifically for individuals who lost loved ones to suicide. | ||
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== Publications: == | == Publications: == | ||
• After the Shock: Surviving the First 90 Days After a Suicide Loss | • After the Shock: Surviving the First 90 Days After a Suicide Loss ( Amazon and Books.by) | ||
• After the Wreckage: Building a Meaningful Life from the Pieces Left Behind by Suicide Loss (forthcoming) | • After the Wreckage: Building a Meaningful Life from the Pieces Left Behind by Suicide Loss (forthcoming) | ||
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'''Structure''' | '''Structure''' | ||
The book | [[File:After the Shock.png|thumb]] | ||
* Days 1–30: | {{Short description|Practical guide for the first 90 days after a suicide loss}} | ||
* Days 31–60: | {{Infobox book | ||
* Days 61–90: | | name = After the Shock: Surviving the First 90 Days After a Suicide Loss | ||
| image = | |||
| caption = | |||
| author = Christine Rifenburgh | |||
| country = United States | |||
| language = English | |||
| series = | |||
| genre = Nonfiction; Self-help; Grief | |||
| publisher = | |||
| pub_date = 2025 | |||
| media_type = Print • eBook | |||
| pages = | |||
| isbn = | |||
}} | |||
'''''After the Shock: Surviving the First 90 Days After a Suicide Loss''''' is a 2025 nonfiction guide by American author Christine Rifenburgh. Written for survivors of suicide loss, the book focuses on day-to-day survival rather than long-term “healing,” offering practical tools, scripts, and coping strategies tailored to the uniquely complex grief that follows a suicide. | |||
== Summary == | |||
The book frames the first three months as three survival phases: | |||
* '''Days 1–30 (Shock & Logistics):''' numbness, confusion, and basic functioning while handling immediate arrangements. | |||
* '''Days 31–60 (Reality & Isolation):''' the shock fades, emotions intensify, and outside support often declines; waves of grief, guilt, and anger are common. | |||
* '''Days 61–90 (Rebuilding & Integration):''' beginning to carry the loss while re-entering life in small, sustainable steps—honoring the loved one without forcing “closure.” | |||
Across these phases, Rifenburgh addresses stigma, intrusive “what-ifs,” and physical symptoms of traumatic grief, and provides ready-to-use responses for difficult conversations, grounding techniques, and an “emergency survival kit” for crisis moments. | |||
== Background == | |||
Rifenburgh wrote the book after the death of her brother, dedicating the work to him and positioning it as both a tribute and a practical companion for others facing suicide bereavement. | |||
== Structure and themes == | |||
* Three-phase 90-day roadmap | |||
* Scripts for social interactions and boundaries | |||
* Managing guilt, anger, and loneliness | |||
* Somatic/physical impacts of grief and basic self-care routines | |||
* Honoring memory while continuing to live | |||
== See also == | |||
* Suicide bereavement | |||
* Traumatic grief | |||
* Coping strategies in early bereavement | |||