Grief and loss

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

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BeyondBlue Welcome to the Grief and Loss section
  • replies: 0

Hey there,Welcome to the Grief and Loss section of the Beyond Blue Forums. This section 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 annivers... View more

Hey there,Welcome to the Grief and Loss section of the Beyond Blue Forums. This section 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. 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 - and anything in between - 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. Please be aware that discussions in this section of the Forums may include references to self-harm and suicide. Treat yourself gently as you read through this section. If need more immediate support, we recommend reaching out to the following: Beyond Blue Support Service – any time, chat online to a counsellor or call 1300 22 4636 Griefline – between 8am and 8pm (AEST), call 1300 845 745 to chat with a specially trained volunteer You are not alone in this, and we are here to support one another. Thank you for being here. Kind regards,Beyond Blue

All discussions

DM95 I miscarried my first child at 18.
  • replies: 5

I’d just turned 18 three months before I took the test that showed up with two pink lines. Looking back now, I wish I’d made more of an effort to keep it safe, it was the only thing connecting me to my baby and it was lost when we moved houses. I was... View more

I’d just turned 18 three months before I took the test that showed up with two pink lines. Looking back now, I wish I’d made more of an effort to keep it safe, it was the only thing connecting me to my baby and it was lost when we moved houses. I wasn’t in a relationship. I was barely an adult. But I knew for sure when my doctor asked me what I wanted to do, I couldn’t go through with an abortion. But two weeks later I got the news most pregnant people don’t want to hear. I was miscarrying. I never heard their heartbeat. I never got to see them. They were just gone. Two amazing weeks thinking I was going to be a mummy, taken from me just like that. I’m 24 now and I still really struggle with the loss of my baby. Thoughts keep running through my mind.. what could I have done differently? Is it my fault I lost my baby? Will I ever have a family? It feels like I’ll never get another chance at having a family and my heart hurts. My heart hurts thinking about the child I could’ve had. How they would’ve started school this year. I feel like I’ve missed so much because my chance at being a mother was taken from me and sometimes I just really can’t cope with that.

CaroW My beautiful girl took her own life- not coping
  • replies: 25

My beautiful daughter took her own life on Feb 11. I am struggling with overwhelming grief and having thoughts of not wanting to go on. We had no idea she was in such a dark place and keep asking why. Please help me!

My beautiful daughter took her own life on Feb 11. I am struggling with overwhelming grief and having thoughts of not wanting to go on. We had no idea she was in such a dark place and keep asking why. Please help me!

am_i_here When your parents were not so nice but you still grieve
  • replies: 1

I come under the heading of "dutiful child". Visited in Nursing home at least weekly. Prior to that rang and visited. I did the right thing for people who didnt do right by me.I sat by their bed day and night in those last few days. I held their hand... View more

I come under the heading of "dutiful child". Visited in Nursing home at least weekly. Prior to that rang and visited. I did the right thing for people who didnt do right by me.I sat by their bed day and night in those last few days. I held their hand as they passed. Such a "good" child. Am I grieving what should have been, what could have been. Some siblings arent that upset. Some are more nostalgic about the few decent things from our childhood. One cut them both off completely. Why do I cry? why do I grieve?

betterdaysahead01 Lost my beautiful mother - panic/depression
  • replies: 6

Hi all, new here but never posted, actually signed up about two months ago because i was feeling down and not long after my mum suddenly passed away. Currently having counselling but craving to talk to people and share stories and connect. Helping he... View more

Hi all, new here but never posted, actually signed up about two months ago because i was feeling down and not long after my mum suddenly passed away. Currently having counselling but craving to talk to people and share stories and connect. Helping helps, please tell me your story if you have lost your mum (she was 69). I'm coping, just. xx Best wishes to anyone going through loss, grief anxiety (i've started calling panic attacks "stress moments"), .I hate the words panic and attack! I know how horrible they are but lets at least make the words less scary. Hope I can help anyone in any possible way. Nicole.

joyous Anger and sadness since virus got my mother
  • replies: 3

My amazing Mum was in good health, no pain, paying $5000/month for [we thought] top-notch care and to be kept safe. Well, management dropped the ball, kicked it across town to another agency, who also dropped the ball, passed the buck - not telling u... View more

My amazing Mum was in good health, no pain, paying $5000/month for [we thought] top-notch care and to be kept safe. Well, management dropped the ball, kicked it across town to another agency, who also dropped the ball, passed the buck - not telling us anything or bullshitting us. For those $$ you'd think you'd get the best care and decent food. Not so. I honestly think she would've been safer next door in the hotel for $125/night max and still have $50/day for food; towels and bedding changed daily, bathroom cleaned daily. Instead, Mum was getting meals brought up on a tray and left at her door. The management kept slipping long and convoluted letters under the doors of ALL residents many - like Mum - with impaired vision, memory loss and cognitive difficulties. The morning they found Mum in a bad state - paramedics were called and they didn't take the envelope with all her instructions, phone numbers, etc. One person said they weren't allowed to touch or take anything; another said they hadn't heard of that rule. Then they said probable UTI (probable more BS), possible RSV and possible Covid19. She had a cough and no fever and they put her on oxygen and ran tests including Covid19 which, they say, came back negative. They then moved her either to or from the acute ward to Covid19 ward and she was now a bit more alert, not eating much, still on oxygen but with "gurgly" lungs. But, remember, they said negative to Covid19 yet they were going to do more tests. Didn't happen. Next thing, she is "gone". They say some kind of pneumonia likely one of the manifestations of Covid19. Mum didn't deserve to die like that. Criminal negligence! More lies about cause of death so they don't panic or scare the other residents, presumably, and protect their precious reputation. If this is a first-rate aged care home (in Canada) I shudder to think what the budget places are like. And - the icing on the bullshit mound - today I get an update email from the GM of the home (who knew Mum had died as she phoned my sister today to offer her condolences) - one of the "Happy Families/Aren't We All Wonderful" updates about how there are NO problems, they have lots to CELEBRATE and happy-everyone photos and stories but no mention of my mother. Nothing. Not even a lie that she had died of pneumonia not Covid19 related. This is why I don't trust anyone and I am devastated. Like in all wars, truth is the first casualty. Insensitivity is the next.

Ajkeats My Daughter
  • replies: 6

I lost my beautiful girl on Tuesday and not coping at all. She was 20 years old I can not handle the feelings I am going through, I hate what has happened in the world and we can’t even have a send off for her. I don’t know what to do and getting so ... View more

I lost my beautiful girl on Tuesday and not coping at all. She was 20 years old I can not handle the feelings I am going through, I hate what has happened in the world and we can’t even have a send off for her. I don’t know what to do and getting so angry and then breaking down crying

MareeBH I feel I have cried almost every day at some stage for 2 years
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Hi. Ive come on here as my back story is I lost my soul mate , the love of my life in a work place truck accident March2018 on his birthday , 8 months prior my bff girlfriend of 35 years passed away and Feb 10th this year my mum passed away . The thr... View more

Hi. Ive come on here as my back story is I lost my soul mate , the love of my life in a work place truck accident March2018 on his birthday , 8 months prior my bff girlfriend of 35 years passed away and Feb 10th this year my mum passed away . The three closest people to me who loved me unconditionally . I have 3 daughters but the relationship is not like that of with my mum. . They think support is inviting to a grand child's soccer game . . I lost my fathers at 9 years old, identical to Daniel trucks and logs . Daniels death is still going with lawyers , Work safe etc . I am going to lawyer today to sign to be administrator of Mums will. For over 30 years my brother was Executor, he's a multi millionaire so when Mum passed he would’ve just brought his people in and had them clean her unit out etc . Nope 3 weeks before she passed he threw the paper work at me and washed his hands . I was the last person to be dealing with this . It just gets worse . So Im going to cut to now . I thought there had to be a group of some sort as when you live on own your beyond isolated . I do take meds for depression and anxiety , its genetic so with the death and trauma , it was a no brainer . Everyone in family on medication . As that first loss at 9 years didn't stop there . The death has gone on till Mum this years . Im 55 years . Prior to Daniel I had run a successful Family Day Care business for 17 years . My Service had been accredited by the National Quality Framework Exceeding . I re opened my Service 22 months after Daniel passed . Mum passed 3 weeks into reopening but I was pretty good, kept it running with experienced help, my daughter . I am so unmotivated , its stepped up since Covid I know I am hard on myself and feel you have to be actively doing something or be productive in someway otherwise its wrong . For me-that is. I was diagnosed with Adult Adhd at 48 year. My Support group now who I am truly grateful for are all paid people but without them not being on my level or not understanding me , I don't know how I would've kept going .... Tears. I feel I have cried almost everyday at same stage during day for 2 years . Thank you ...Maree

Sparky55 Can grief make you ill?
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My mum passed away on Easter morning in Canada during the COVID19 outbreak - but not from the virus. Australia and Canada closed their borders to international travel before I could get on a plane to be with her and my Canadian family. The world was ... View more

My mum passed away on Easter morning in Canada during the COVID19 outbreak - but not from the virus. Australia and Canada closed their borders to international travel before I could get on a plane to be with her and my Canadian family. The world was in lockdown. Since then I’ve gone from being an optimistic and calm person to being paralysed with grief and anxiety. I can’t seem to function in any normal way, have cancelled virtual meetings and now have severe gastro and convinced I have COVID.. My husband is being supportive and we’re using virtual platforms but nothing seems to help. What else should I be doing to move through this?

John1232 Family death
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Hi All, My mum died on Monday and I need some support

Hi All, My mum died on Monday and I need some support

l_h teen suicide grief *trigger warning - suicide*
  • replies: 1

it’s been 6 week since i’ve lost my best friend to suicide and i’m so lost. she was only 18 and we had so many plans together. she was my soul mate i swear. we never fought, we were so similar, yet so different. she was so beautiful and the most cari... View more

it’s been 6 week since i’ve lost my best friend to suicide and i’m so lost. she was only 18 and we had so many plans together. she was my soul mate i swear. we never fought, we were so similar, yet so different. she was so beautiful and the most caring and giving person i have and will ever meet in my life. i’m so blank without her. i only turned 17 a couple of months ago and with this isolation, loss of friends and social contact and the ability to come and go as i please to the outside i don’t know how i’m going to continue to do this. it’s so hard. we continuously talked about all the stuff we were finally going to do when i finally turned 18 and now she’s gone and left me and i’m so lost, so lifeless. i just want her next to me, to just hear her sweet laugh one more time, or her beautiful smile. i’m just so empty, i have no care for anything anymore. and i wouldn’t per say i was suicidal as i could never even think to wish the pain of losing a loved one to my family and friends, but i just have no care anymore. i got in a really bad car accident 2 weeks ago where I could have died but i just didn’t/don’t care. this isolation is killing me even more slowly cause i have no way to grieve other than crying in my bed or just laying there with no emotion. i just wanna know if there’s any tips or things i can do to fix me. it hurts so much