Bereavement


Coping with death can be really hard.  There is no one way to cope with the feelings any of us has after a bereavement.   We all feel differently and we all cope in different ways.   You might feel quite isolated.   You may think nobody else has felt the same way.

These are some of the feelings or physical reactions you might be experiencing:

 

  • Guilt
  • Relief
  • Unreality
  • Shock
  • Confusion
  • Panic
  • Anger
  • Fear
  • A sense of calm

 

  • Sadness
  • Loneliness
  • Bitterness
  • Anxiety
  • Jumpiness
  • Sleeplessness
  • Numbness
  • Tearfulness
  • Lack of concentration
  • Tension within your body

These feelings and physical reactions are very common.  You may not experience some of them at all.  Others may stay with you for a long time.  You are likely to go through different emotions at different stages after the death of a loved one and there is no right or wrong way to feel.

Grief can impact us for a long time.  It is not reasonable to expect a return to "normal" after a few weeks or months.   If, after a year or so, you are still experiencing feelings or sensations that are stopping you living as you wish, then you may want to ask for advice at your GP Practice.

Marie Curie

Survivors of Bereavement by suicide

The Compassionate Friends - Supporting bereaved parents and their families

The WAY Foundation - Widowed and young

Winstons Wish - Hope and support for grieving children