Why do you think Kieran is more successful than some of the other characters at living with the trauma he experienced?

Why do you think Kieran is more successful than some of the other characters at living with the trauma he experienced? What are some of the ways in which the other characters try to cope, and how successful do you think they are?

Kieran fared better because of his therapist's advice to find something to ground him. Swimming helped him cope. It helped him find peace, however fleeting. That coping mechanism helped him move forward. Mia helped too, in understanding the tragedy of his past and helping him reframe his future. The others didn't have that same kind of anchor and, as a result, were unmoored.

That is a really good question. Why does someone handle loss and guilt more effectively than another person? Being able to talk about it with a therapist and having a wife who knows the story and can be empathetic may play a role. Being able to leave home behind and become successful in his own life also an important factor.

I agree with Olivia that it is hard to know for sure, but I think Kieran was more grounded, he had his wife and daughter who gave him a whole new perspective and he left that town which was a good thing.

Kieran has "worked on himself" to coin an often over-used phrase. He credits much of his recovery on Mia and Audrey but even prior to that, he visited a therapist and found swimming as a way to channel his frustration. In some respects, Kieran is a good foil to some of the other characters (like Sean and even Verity) who have not worked to help mitigate their trauma.

Kieran has had the advantage of leaving Evelyn Bay and moving to Sydney where he began a new life. As part of this process, he talked with a therapist who helped him find ways of dealing with his guilt and frustration. Among those ways is swimming and long walks, and when he returns home to help his mother, we see him put both of those to good use. Nature, Harper seems to be telling her readers, is a near perfect cure for what ails us. Kieran has also met Mia and been able to share his past with her, and he enjoys her complete acceptance and support. Further, the two of them have fallen in love and now share a future together with their child, Audrey. Clearly, Kieran has much to look forward to and more to focus on than what he left behind.

I think there are multiple reasons for Kieran's ability to move on with his life. Working with a therapist to direct his energies to swimming required him to focus on something other than his grief. Getting away from Evelyn Bay was also helpful. Perhaps the most healing changes in his life came from his relationship with Mia and becoming a father. Kieran's journey of healing stands in stark contrast to other characters who are stuck in their grief. Verity, Liam and Trish all need help if they are to move on successfully with their lives.

I agree with most of the comments made. Kieran left and sought therapy. I think it would be very difficult to move back and again deal with all the undermining issues and reminders of the past

I also agree with the previous comments. I have to credit Kieran’s desire to survive and his willingness to put in the work it takes to move forward. He learned from the therapist and put the suggestions he was given to work. He realized his wife was also key in his life and appreciated her. He seemed willing to accept his parents for who they were despite their unwillingness to give him love and forgiveness. He understood his responsibility to his daughter to deal with the cards he had been dealt and continue forward. Moving forward after tragedy takes an enormous amount of effort and work. Kieran put in the work but it was still hard.

Kiernan not only had professional help, but he moved away. He went on with his life in a natural way - married and had children. He was not mired daily in the loss that everyone went through by staying in Evelyn Bay.