Grief and loss

Support and advice following the loss of a family member, partner, spouse or someone close to you.

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Sophie_M Welcome to the Grief and Loss section
  • replies: 27

Everyone’s experience of grief or loss is unique. You might experience all kinds of difficult or overwhelming emotions, and you might sometimes wonder if the sadness will ever end. This is a normal reaction to loss. There is no right or wrong way to ... View more

Everyone’s experience of grief or loss is unique. You might experience all kinds of difficult or overwhelming emotions, and you might sometimes wonder if the sadness will ever end. This is a normal reaction to loss. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, but it can help to allow yourself to: share your grief, and let others support you. This forum category is for all discussions relating to how grief and loss has affected you, providing a space for you to express your feelings, discuss difficult moments and anniversaries, and honour the memories of your lost loved ones. Please be aware that threads in this forum may contain discussions of self-harm and suicide.

All discussions

Jasper I almost lost my dad
  • replies: 2

My dad had heart surgery a few days ago, and while I’ve been aware of the fact that it could’ve easily been so much worse to the point where he might’ve died, it only just hit me tonight. And I’m not okay. It’s especially heard because my dad and I d... View more

My dad had heart surgery a few days ago, and while I’ve been aware of the fact that it could’ve easily been so much worse to the point where he might’ve died, it only just hit me tonight. And I’m not okay. It’s especially heard because my dad and I don’t have the greatest relationship, and we were going through a particularly difficult time leading up to all of this. I just feel so guilty. If he put off getting his chest pain checked out even just a couple days longer, he would’ve died, and the last thing we would’ve done was have a fight. I hate this. I might not have a great relationship with him but the thought of him dying is so scary and it was so close to happening

BlackMaccumba Seperation and Anxiety feeling broken, lost and un-lovable
  • replies: 2

I have broken up with my girlfriend and I now feel so broken and lost, were both neural divergent known each other for over a year were incredibly honest and direct we were sexual for 1 month, but this has been as devastating as the breakup of the 10... View more

I have broken up with my girlfriend and I now feel so broken and lost, were both neural divergent known each other for over a year were incredibly honest and direct we were sexual for 1 month, but this has been as devastating as the breakup of the 10-year relationship with my finance. I have now recently been told by her that she is pregnant with a baby that is mine and I have always wanted to be a father, but she has told me she is going to get an abortion, her new partner will leave her if she has the baby. I have tried to come to an arrangement but to no avail. I broke up the relationship because there was a huge change in her, I realized that I was a second-class citizen in the relationship. She also told me 3 days after my aunt passed away that she was going to start dating other men but only have sex with me, she just liked the thrill of dating. I later found out that I am the first man to have broken up with her, which does not make me feel better, but I now understand she is so upset. From the work I have done in AA. I realized after the breakup of my 10 year relationship that I needed help and sought counseling to then have been identified with Combined ADHD with a rating of medium to high, Anxious preoccupied attachment and CPTSD, I know that alcohol or drugs were not going to help me in any way and gave up this includes now cigarettes and sugar. I know that I had to do a huge amount of work on myself that up until last couple of years I refused to acknowledge. The hard part is I know she is seeing someone else in the AA group, but there is nothing I can do it is out of my hands all I can to is focus on myself. I noticed some behaviors in myself like machine gun texting even when there were no reply 15 texts in three days. I have had other women read my texts, they were direct and to the point and I did not talk down, swear or be rude. But I know realize that when I think that someone is breaking up, even if they are not, I will pull the pin and throw in the hand grenade, and I can now see just from my txt's that there is anger in just how I texted even without reading the words. So, I know have to do more work as I can see from my inventory that this past behavior, what is new is the ability to accept it and work on it and do the DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) for BPD (borderline personality disorder). Regardless of the amount of work I have done and read with CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and books I was told to read. I still feel so broken, lost, emotional and keep looking at how I could have done things differently to save the relationship but the friends of my first AA partner keep telling me I have done the right thing and my ex of 10 years that I am still friends with is telling me the same. Even a friend of mine she knows all the parties involved and she is so supportive. A year ago, when I met her at 17, I thought she was going to be dead in 2 to 3 months she was a hard drugs user with anorexia. No one in AA wanted to help her, I saw the look in her eyes of fear, worthlessness and sheer desperation, and I saw me in those eyes. I could not just let her walk out without support. I have climbed every stair in every club, pub and dive in Canberra until 4am in the morning supporting her and having conversations she has been clean for over a year and is back studying to be a teacher. I have been called a sex predator and pedophile. We have never had sex she is a lesbian and we both have been abused in the past I am 52 years old. I have no regrets being there for her has been one of the best things I have done, and I now know her family who are really nice people and she is one of my best friends and fiercely loyal. It's just sad my ex would help push the rumors, my friend she has supported me in meeting and set the record straight. Thanks to her I will be doing CBT she recognized that it would help me 6 months into our friendship that it would help me. She now rings me up to see how I am going even if I am a little down, she will check in and has become one of my best friends and we do things together play tennis, walk dogs or hold her pet snake. My clinical psychologist she wants me to help or support people of all sexes and not just males as what some members of AA want me to do. I still hurt, feel broken and lost over the separation and that is even with all the support that I have and the rumors since the separation are flying thick and thin. But that is teaching me to work on myself and ignore what others say. I don't know what else to do I have to keep living or try to even through all the pain, anxiety and depression.

1TassieDevil (once abusive)Dad dying overseas...
  • replies: 4

I am the only member of my family living in Australia as my Dad slowly passes away back in the UK. I am feeling so much torment and resurfacing trauma from an abusive childhood that I've had to take time off work to process and deal with all these un... View more

I am the only member of my family living in Australia as my Dad slowly passes away back in the UK. I am feeling so much torment and resurfacing trauma from an abusive childhood that I've had to take time off work to process and deal with all these unexpected and debilitating emotions...any advice or similar experiences? I feel so weak

Guest_40494911 My father passed away just before christmas
  • replies: 1

My father passed away a few weeks before Christmas and the funeral was after Christmas. I spoke with my dad every single day and now I feel so lost and alone. My husband was there with me but now he doesn't seem to understand that I need time to grie... View more

My father passed away a few weeks before Christmas and the funeral was after Christmas. I spoke with my dad every single day and now I feel so lost and alone. My husband was there with me but now he doesn't seem to understand that I need time to grief and heal. I am finding it very difficult to connect with my husband right now and I also don't know how to heal and move forward.

Guest_03252580 Death of my partner
  • replies: 1

My beloved partner of ten years was killed in a car crash 15 months ago. The crash was caused deliberately by a mentally ill driver who is now facing murder charges. The court proceedings are very difficult for me but not the biggest difficulty. I mi... View more

My beloved partner of ten years was killed in a car crash 15 months ago. The crash was caused deliberately by a mentally ill driver who is now facing murder charges. The court proceedings are very difficult for me but not the biggest difficulty. I miss my partner all the time and feel completely abandoned. I do have loving friends and my very elderly father who loves me dearly, but no siblings (brother committed suicide 25 years ago) and I never had children. Life has little joy any more and I can't see the point. If it were not for my father I dont know how I would cope anymore, I know not to hurt him in anyway, after what he went through with my brother.

sleepy166 Parents gone by 21
  • replies: 1

I am currently 26 years of age. I feel guilty that the loss of my parents still affects me every day. It affects my relationships with friends, co-workers and my boyfriend. It is so damn hard to explain. I just don't feel normal and don't want to act... View more

I am currently 26 years of age. I feel guilty that the loss of my parents still affects me every day. It affects my relationships with friends, co-workers and my boyfriend. It is so damn hard to explain. I just don't feel normal and don't want to actually tell people how I feel because they cannot relate and I don't want to be a burden and it's exhausting. I have used vices that are not healthy to achieve relief and I do not know what to do. I am on anti depresants and see my therapist every 6 months but I cannot deal with myself anymore. I just feel like a piece of shit because I don't feel normal and cant just have a laugh with people or feel comfortable to message someone to hang out. I am so exhausted.

Guest_04161246 Separation and anxiety
  • replies: 2

Recently my 8 year relationship was ended by my fiancée. I had just turned 30 (F) and we were planning our life together. We had bought our first home and owned a dog we had together for 7 years. One day he left and has not been back and it’s been a ... View more

Recently my 8 year relationship was ended by my fiancée. I had just turned 30 (F) and we were planning our life together. We had bought our first home and owned a dog we had together for 7 years. One day he left and has not been back and it’s been a month today. i recently found out that they may have been some infidelity with a co-worker and it has really put my progress backwards and I’m constantly ruminating about this situation and putting negative thoughts into my head. The anxiety won’t stop, I have tried breathing exercises, walking, holding my dog, crying, hot showers, sleep meditations, meditations. Nothing seems to be working to stop intrusive thoughts and all I want is the validation of the person who hurt me the most. I’m feeling very low self esteem and self sabotaging seems to be the only way I can make sense of anything. I want this pain to end, I want to stop feeling this reality. I miss my old life and I miss the girl I used to be a month ago. I’m really lost and don’t know what to do.

Guest_66161283 Tahnisha
  • replies: 1

Hi there I really need to talk to a grief counseling 

Hi there I really need to talk to a grief counseling 

Guest_75144421 Loss of Mum
  • replies: 3

I lost my mum nearly 5 weeks ago. I’m so broken, I don’t know how to live my life without my mum.Mum was diagnosed with Lymphoma on 17th November 2023 and lost her battle on 24th November 2024. I was mum’s carer for the last 6 weeks of her life. I ne... View more

I lost my mum nearly 5 weeks ago. I’m so broken, I don’t know how to live my life without my mum.Mum was diagnosed with Lymphoma on 17th November 2023 and lost her battle on 24th November 2024. I was mum’s carer for the last 6 weeks of her life. I never left her side.I am beside myself with grief and cannot find peace anywhere.My Dad doesn’t want to talk about mum, I think he needs to.I am so heartbroken and finding it difficult to get through each day.

Cheeso Loss of Dad and Mum
  • replies: 1

Hi, when I was 42 I lost my Dad to Emphysema as he was a carpenter with fine dust particles along with fibre glass particle that was commonly used back in the 70’s/80’s…. He also had Chronic Asthma & Chronic Bronchitis with Kyphosis and Scoliosis whi... View more

Hi, when I was 42 I lost my Dad to Emphysema as he was a carpenter with fine dust particles along with fibre glass particle that was commonly used back in the 70’s/80’s…. He also had Chronic Asthma & Chronic Bronchitis with Kyphosis and Scoliosis which was hard. 4 1/2 years later Mum passed away from Heart Failure and I found her deceased. Has anyone else found anyone deceased…. Needing help with mental health. Been told that I have Complex Grief.