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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.

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BC16 Sudden loss of my young sister
  • replies: 13

Hi, a Month ago my 22yo sister passed away suddenly. She was the healthiest happiest and kindest person and I don’t understand. No one can tell us why that is was just a sudden cardiac event. I can’t sleep, I can’t talk to anyone and I feel so guilt ... View more

Hi, a Month ago my 22yo sister passed away suddenly. She was the healthiest happiest and kindest person and I don’t understand. No one can tell us why that is was just a sudden cardiac event. I can’t sleep, I can’t talk to anyone and I feel so guilt that I couldn’t protect her. My wife wants me to open up but I don’t know how.

PD08 Recently lost my sister
  • replies: 1

Hi, About 2 month’s ago I lost my sister who was just 37yo out of the blue. To say that this has knocked me and my family is an understatement. She was healthy, happy and the loving mother for 3 children. We are still waiting to know why/what happene... View more

Hi, About 2 month’s ago I lost my sister who was just 37yo out of the blue. To say that this has knocked me and my family is an understatement. She was healthy, happy and the loving mother for 3 children. We are still waiting to know why/what happened other than it was just a sudden cardiac event. I struggled to sleep and talk to anyone about it, my first response is I’m fine. I moved abroad a few years ago and now feel so guilt that I lost time with her.

Saddepressed-alone I lost my husband. My best friend. We have been together for 18 years and we worked 24 / 7
  • replies: 1

My husband died on the 14th April from a stroke (2). We have worked and been together 24 / 7 the whole time. Yesterday would have been our 19th Anniversary. I was not paying attention as was in hospital to dates but then found out about yesterday. I ... View more

My husband died on the 14th April from a stroke (2). We have worked and been together 24 / 7 the whole time. Yesterday would have been our 19th Anniversary. I was not paying attention as was in hospital to dates but then found out about yesterday. I still can not look at our photos.I feed awful I wasn't ready for this first mile stone.i just want to join him.

tagal Husband passed away
  • replies: 10

I lost my husband of 55 years recently we had been together since I was 15 and he 17. I am completely devastated and cry all the time (except when someone is here) I find it hard to go out but manage it when I’m with my sons and there wives. I just c... View more

I lost my husband of 55 years recently we had been together since I was 15 and he 17. I am completely devastated and cry all the time (except when someone is here) I find it hard to go out but manage it when I’m with my sons and there wives. I just can’t stop thinking about him miss him so much. If anyone has any ideas how to stop this constantly thinking of him I would be very grateful.

PrincessE Help please - I am dying with grief
  • replies: 3

Please help, i am feeling so desperate, i just want to die and be with my babyI lost my beautiful girl (Golden Retriever) 5 weeks ago, I have had her since she was 6 weeks old. I am not coping with this grief and trauma and shock and don’t know what ... View more

Please help, i am feeling so desperate, i just want to die and be with my babyI lost my beautiful girl (Golden Retriever) 5 weeks ago, I have had her since she was 6 weeks old. I am not coping with this grief and trauma and shock and don’t know what to do I am scared of this becoming a deep and serious depression I just want to die and be with her, I cannot go on without her, she was my child that I just loved and adored as I don’t have children I cannot accept that she is gone and that I will never see her again I have nothing to live for without her, she was my whole world and I lived for heri cannot Live in my house because I am expecting to see her there and the realisation just shocks me I survived divorce with her by my side.I feel so traumatised and guilty that I had to make the decision as she was suffering I am not living without her, I am unable to get out of bed as have no motivation to go on, I am broken and devastated This grief and Trauma is unbearable and I cannot go on with this pain.I have nothing to go on for if I can never see her beautiful face again She was my best friend and my constant companion and I relied on her for my emotional supportI am awake all night worrying and crying and nauseous with anxiety I don’t know what to do to try and recover but I feel guilty for having a life when I took her life away from her.

Mumsgirl Lost my mum to cancer
  • replies: 4

Has anyone lost a parent to cancer and can please tell me how to cope with the unrelenting sadness and regret? I am seriously struggling with my day to day life and I feel like my kids are missing out because I just can't stop crying and I get irrita... View more

Has anyone lost a parent to cancer and can please tell me how to cope with the unrelenting sadness and regret? I am seriously struggling with my day to day life and I feel like my kids are missing out because I just can't stop crying and I get irritated so easily. My mum passed just over 5 months ago now and everyday it just get harder. I don't have have a partner, the kids dads not in the picture and not much support or other family and there's about a 3month wait for my first counciling intake appointment so im just trying to find ways to cope in the meantime if anyone has ideas?

A_lost_soul I’m drowning and I don’t know which way is up
  • replies: 2

I have complex PTSD, anxiety disorder, ADD, treatment resistant depression, etc; and the one person I relied on the most who I saw multiple times a week for 14 years, is gone forever. Adding complex grief to my never ending list of problems. I feel l... View more

I have complex PTSD, anxiety disorder, ADD, treatment resistant depression, etc; and the one person I relied on the most who I saw multiple times a week for 14 years, is gone forever. Adding complex grief to my never ending list of problems. I feel like I can’t survive. I feel like I’m so alone in this world. I need something drastic to happen or I won’t survive. But I don’t know what to do

ronnie1 Lost grandson
  • replies: 4

Hi, I lost my 5 year old grandson in April, I can’t explain how devastated our family is and I am struggling to deal with it.I have tried just about everything and nothing seems to be helping,sometimes I feel I’m getting worst. I find it hard to do a... View more

Hi, I lost my 5 year old grandson in April, I can’t explain how devastated our family is and I am struggling to deal with it.I have tried just about everything and nothing seems to be helping,sometimes I feel I’m getting worst. I find it hard to do anything I used to do, I don’t know maybe it’s guilt or maybe it’s because it reminds me when things were better. The only thing that keeps me going is not wanting anyone else to have to suffer although sometimes I feel like it’s just all too overwhelming .I don’t want to feel like this for ever but I’m really struggling to let go. I have lost older people in my life before,but to loose a young family member just tears your heart out.Is anyone else going or been through the the loss of a child ?

Joanne_77 My Spouse of 26 years passed away suddenly
  • replies: 3

HiI'm new here and l have never had any sort of counselling or therapy so lm unsure what benefits l could get by seeking those services, so l found this site and lm hoping l can find people who have experienced the same sort of grief l am unfortunate... View more

HiI'm new here and l have never had any sort of counselling or therapy so lm unsure what benefits l could get by seeking those services, so l found this site and lm hoping l can find people who have experienced the same sort of grief l am unfortunately going through. I lost my partner on 8th March, 2 weeks before his 50th Bday. He went to hospital 8th Feb with a sore tooth but was given a diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer spread to the brain. In the end it was blood clots that spread to major arteries that took him from us. We have 2 boys, 12 & 14.I have been in pilot mode since and the tears are flowing daily at particular times of the day with an intense empty feeling in my stomach. I just can't see how l will ever be as happy as l once was. Has anyone else been through the grief of losing their spouse, if so l would love to hear how you coped, if you have found happiness again and how long does this feeling stay for. Thankyou

Princess Tilly Passing of my cat today
  • replies: 3

I had to have my 17 year old cat put down at the vets this morning. It's the first time since late 2003 that I haven't had an animal in the house and my daughter moved many years ago. It's not the first time I've said goodbye to a beloved pet but thi... View more

I had to have my 17 year old cat put down at the vets this morning. It's the first time since late 2003 that I haven't had an animal in the house and my daughter moved many years ago. It's not the first time I've said goodbye to a beloved pet but this is the first time that I'm completely alone in the house. It's just devastating as it felt like Princess Tilly would go on forever. I know things will get better with time but at the moment it's very difficult especially when I realise how much "stuff" the cat had. I've put away her food bowls but I haven't had the heart to move her scratching post, toy box and water bowls as I think at the moment their absence might be too difficult for me - in a way I "kid myself" that she's still there somewhere in the house. I know with the loss of other pets that with time I'll know when I'm ready to put them away.