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

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
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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
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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.

WritingDamsel Struggling with missing mum at Christmas
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My mum passed away 6 years ago in January. Grief totally paralysed me in the first 3 years after her death, but I'd been doing a lot better. I'd actually say I had found a new normal in the last 2 years. However, in the last month after a lot of mini... View more

My mum passed away 6 years ago in January. Grief totally paralysed me in the first 3 years after her death, but I'd been doing a lot better. I'd actually say I had found a new normal in the last 2 years. However, in the last month after a lot of mini-crisises with unrelated things, and after hearing a constant stream of people complaining about their mums at my job, I feel like I'm back in that dark hole I was in after she died. My mum was my truest friend. We had our ups and downs like most people, but she was always there for me. She believed in me and advocated for me more than I did for myself. I still struggle to do that, and even when I do I feel like I get it wrong. I just want to have a safe place I can go where I know the person I'm talking to will still care about me no matter what.

1131 2024
  • replies: 2

January 10th I had to leave my dad for one day/night. To go to my brother in-laws funeral and he suffered from bad depression. I was his full time carer. The next day when I got home with my Partner we found my dad had ended his life. That really mes... View more

January 10th I had to leave my dad for one day/night. To go to my brother in-laws funeral and he suffered from bad depression. I was his full time carer. The next day when I got home with my Partner we found my dad had ended his life. That really messed me up pretty bad.. My family were hurting so much. June 30th my Mum had a stroke and I had to go to Sydney so they could switch off her life support because she was brain-dead. I was so grateful I could be there for my mum. I'm medicated for the pain and Trauma I suffer from bad panic attacks now. I've drank alot of alcohol this year to numb me.. I've been accused from my brother of contributing to my dad's passing and also been accused from sister for my mum. But I'm the one who was always there. I paid for both there Cremations. It's been one tough year.. Just this Sunday thats been my Nan passed away from a Brain tumour and a Broken after what her son did... Just been a shattering year..

Poppy_14 Lost my Mum
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I lost my Mum 3 weeks ago. It still doesn't feel real. She was my best friend and I don't know how I'm going to do life without her. I have a very supportive Dad and brother, but they are not my Mum. I've taken time off work and due to go back the we... View more

I lost my Mum 3 weeks ago. It still doesn't feel real. She was my best friend and I don't know how I'm going to do life without her. I have a very supportive Dad and brother, but they are not my Mum. I've taken time off work and due to go back the week after next. I'm not ready and I'm going to see if my gp can write me another certificate for more time off. I don't feel like I will ever be ready. Is this normal? I lived with my Mum and Dad and I keep expecting to see her. She had been sick for quite a while and was due to have an operation that was going to make her better. We were planning all the things she was going to be able to do once she was better. Its not meant to be this way