Coping With Grief

Coping With Grief

Grief is personal. It can arrive in waves, in quiet moments, or at times you least expect. There is no right or wrong way to feel. This page is here to offer steady, gentle support and to guide you toward resources that can help.

Understanding the Grieving Process

Grief is not a straight line. You may move between sadness, anger, numbness, confusion, or even moments of laughter. All of it is part of adjusting to life after loss. If you want a clear, structured explanation of how grief works, the NHS offers a simple guide: NHS Bereavement Support.

Common Emotions You Might Be Feeling

You might feel:

  • Deep sadness or emptiness

  • Confusion or difficulty concentrating

  • Anger toward the situation or the world

  • Relief that the person is no longer suffering

  • Guilt about things said or unsaid

  • A sense of disconnection from daily life

These feelings are normal, and they will shift over time. For more detail, Mind UK provides an excellent overview.

How to Support Yourself Day to Day

Small steps often help more than big ones.

  • Keep a simple routine.

  • Let yourself rest when you need to.

  • Speak about your person if it brings comfort.

  • Write things down if thoughts feel heavy.

  • Eat something small three times a day.

  • Go outside, even briefly, to reset your breath and mind.

Cruse Bereavement Support has practical tips and phone support if you want to speak to someone trained to help:

Supporting Children and Young People

Children grieve differently. They move in and out of sadness quickly, and often need reassurance that the feelings they have are allowed. Winston’s Wish specialises in child bereavement support:

When Grief Feels Overwhelming

If your grief feels too heavy or you are struggling to function day to day, extra help is a strong and healthy step. Marie Curie offers a helpful guide to coping with grief. The NHS also provides advice on when to reach out for professional help.

Support for Suicide Bereavement

Losing someone to suicide brings its own form of grief. You might feel shock, guilt, anger, or questions that feel impossible to answer. You are not alone in this. SOBS (Support After Suicide Loss) offers specialist support for people affected by suicide loss.

Many families choose to honour their loved one by supporting organisations that offer help to others in grief. If you would like to donate, here is a direct link to support SOBS and the work they do.

Immediate Support

If you want someone to talk to right now, Samaritans are available 24 hours a day at 116123 from any telephone or mobile and is FREE.

Grief Chat is free of charge and is open Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm (UK time) to grieving or bereaved people. Grief Chat is a Kindred Association to the AOIC (Association Of Independent Celebrants).

If you prefer written or peer support, Healthtalk shares real stories from people experiencing bereavement in many different ways:

• Healthtalk: https://www.healthtalk.org/bereavement

You Do Not Have To Face This Alone

You may feel overwhelmed in the days and weeks after losing someone you love. I am here to help you plan a meaningful ceremony and to support you through each step. If you would like to talk through your ideas or begin planning a Celebration of Life, please get in touch.

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