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

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KD1234 Partners twin brother passed away, he is depressed and has suicidal thoughts..
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Hi all, this is the first time I have posted one here.. My partner is 24 and last year his twin brother tragically died in a motorbike accident. He is very good at covering up his feelings. He refuses to cry or show his pain around me. Although he do... View more

Hi all, this is the first time I have posted one here.. My partner is 24 and last year his twin brother tragically died in a motorbike accident. He is very good at covering up his feelings. He refuses to cry or show his pain around me. Although he does open up and cry around his mates it doesn't happen often. I have tried multiple times to get him to seek some counselling as I can see it is affecting him. He drinks a lot and is very angry when drunk (he has never hurt me but always seems to pick fights). Last night while at the pub, he opened up to a girl who he went to primary school with and told her he plans to kill himself on his birthday which is in September. Hes away this weekend on a 'boys weekend' so I haven't had the chance to talk to him about it, and he has no idea that I even know. I have spoken to his Aunty and Uncle who are helping me support him and we are trying to workout where to go from here. He refuses any sort of counselling and says he is fine. We have a 13 month old son and it really hurts me that he thinks its fine to leave myself and our son in this world alone.. I suffer from mild depression myself.. Im also worried he may have bipolar as his mother does and his attitude is much like hers.. Thanks for reading. Sorry it's so long, any advice greatly appreciated..

Raia MOVING FORWARD
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I lost my best friend in 2008 in a tragic helicopter accident that I was suppose to have been on but didn't as my one year old at the time was unwell. This was devastating to me and for many years I struggled with her passing. Too young and too many ... View more

I lost my best friend in 2008 in a tragic helicopter accident that I was suppose to have been on but didn't as my one year old at the time was unwell. This was devastating to me and for many years I struggled with her passing. Too young and too many things in life yet to complete and achieve. I cant help but think that I was not there in that moment for a reason. I lost my grandmother who grew me up from a infant. I was holding her hand when she passed. She is always in my memory and my heart and thoughts. Its been 7 years since l lost my best friend and 2 years since I lost my grandmother who both played a very important role in my life. I struggle at times but its made me realize that life is too short and all I want is to be simply be happy and love life with the people I have in it. The journey has been hard and long but I've finally overcome the loss. I miss them and shed tears when I think of them but I know they would want me to be happy and to make the most of my life.

Lozano I can't get over the murder of my father then the death of my partner
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In 2010 August the 20th my father was murdered the guy that did this was arrested and after 3 years of court was found Not Guilty due to mental health he was sent to goal under the NSW mental health team. While going through my fathers murder trial o... View more

In 2010 August the 20th my father was murdered the guy that did this was arrested and after 3 years of court was found Not Guilty due to mental health he was sent to goal under the NSW mental health team. While going through my fathers murder trial on The 18th January 2011 my partner of 3 wonderful years passed away in my arms and I could not revive him . Now 5 years after my dad's murder and 4 years the death of my partner I am still well I don't know what I am? I have 3 wonderful children daughter 31 son 29 daughter 15 and I have 5 wonderful grand kids . My son and his family moved interstate and I am missing them so much. I think I need some help I have had counselling and on medication this dose not seem to help I have isolated my self from my family choosing to stay at home and visit them very little now on the other hand I am drinking a lot more now with friends at the pub and do this at least 2 nights in a row every fortnight some times every week I have been to visit my son and my grand kids a few times but when I leave i am very up set crying for hours while driving home .people say they admire me for my strength and the way I have got through it all as in the April of 2011 3months after the death of my partner I started full time work I know people think I am strong but to be honest I am no were near strong I am at my wits end and don't know how to get out of this spiral down turn I am on I don't talk to my kids much anymore and I know they feel that iam still hurting very bad please help me how do I get over this How do I return to the happy person I was before all this I don't know can someone please help me to return to the happy go lucky person I was and to re open the communication I had with everyone in my life I help people every day in my job but can't help myself ?? Most of the time I sit in my lounge room on my own watching TV but not really watching some times I can go all night and all day without even talking a word I need to get my life back please help me find my way back some how ???? I love my children and family so much but feel I have lost the ability to talk to them I am the eldest of 4 children and my family always turn to me when there is a problem as I am a fix it person and fix everything I can for them why can't I fix myself beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

Laura_Jane Lost my brother to depression
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5 moths ago I got a phone call from my father one of the worst calls you could ever get he called to tell me that my brother had taken his own life witch was crazy because he was the happiest guy and loved everyone still struggle with knowing that he... View more

5 moths ago I got a phone call from my father one of the worst calls you could ever get he called to tell me that my brother had taken his own life witch was crazy because he was the happiest guy and loved everyone still struggle with knowing that he's not coming back I don't want any farther mother sister brother to feel the loss that I have felt to know that I could have done something to change that day so I am on here to try and help anyone who is struggling and know that you are important and it's ok to say I'm not ok

Laura_Jane Lost my brother to depression
  • replies: 2

5 moths ago I got a phone call from my father one of the worst calls you could ever get he called to tell me that my brother had taken his own life witch was crazy because he was the happiest guy and loved everyone still struggle with knowing that he... View more

5 moths ago I got a phone call from my father one of the worst calls you could ever get he called to tell me that my brother had taken his own life witch was crazy because he was the happiest guy and loved everyone still struggle with knowing that he's not coming back I don't want any farther mother sister brother to feel the loss that I have felt to know that I could have done something to change that day so I am on here to try and help anyone who is struggling and know that you are important and it's ok to say I'm not ok

BundysMum My grief seems to be getting worse
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I lost my partner of 27 years on May 12th. My sorrow seems to be getting worse with every day that passes.Is this normal?

I lost my partner of 27 years on May 12th. My sorrow seems to be getting worse with every day that passes.Is this normal?

PhoebeEmily Double layer struggle. PTSD 4 years and then Grief after illness and death of husband 2 years
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Hi, About four years ago I was diagnosed as having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of a series of unpleasant incidents to do with my work. About two years into that, my husband developed brain tumours and became progressively more ill. My ... View more

Hi, About four years ago I was diagnosed as having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of a series of unpleasant incidents to do with my work. About two years into that, my husband developed brain tumours and became progressively more ill. My poor man died late last year. Prior to his death, I had treatment for the PTSD paid for by the workplace insurers through WorkCover rules and regulations. Several types of treatment were tried and though no doubt good for others, they were not effective for me, or caused other issues. I have since seen items on the use of Neurofeedback for PTSD, including a military study showing high effective outcomes, and an item on Catalyst indicating good results for a traumatised migrant male. My question is, does anyone have any experience of the effectiveness of this type of treatment, and where were they able to access it? I'm in an isolated country area, so any treatment means having to travel, with all the costs that entails. Thanks, I wish all of you the best possible future. PhoebeEmily

Tonileigh Loss of my daughter and only child
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Hi I lostmy daughter Ashleigh, August 7th 2009.. And I still struggle with overwhelming grief without her.. Flashbacks of that day.. she was born with a congenital heart condition, had 4 open heart ops.. And lots of hospital stays in her 16yrs.. She ... View more

Hi I lostmy daughter Ashleigh, August 7th 2009.. And I still struggle with overwhelming grief without her.. Flashbacks of that day.. she was born with a congenital heart condition, had 4 open heart ops.. And lots of hospital stays in her 16yrs.. She was a little fighter... And 09 her health went down hill with pulmonary hypertension, and she was looking aga heart lung transplant.. It was such a shock! She decided to do all tests for transplant.. And it was then we realised her pacemaker was getting close to being replaced.. And they weren't wrong.. A week later we were back and waiting for adr and anethasist to do her surgery.. Took 2 wks before they did it, and she got so much sicker waiting...I walked up with her to the theatre.. She was so looking forward to feeling better.. As she lay there, I mouthed to her, I LOVE YOU.. She nodded at me with a smile on herf face.. It was only 20 mins later we got called back, because they were trying to revive her.. Complications with surgery and the hypertension... They managed to revive her.. And she went up to icu.. They had stabilised her and our dr said they were going to let her sleep over wkend.. But when we went in the nurses were till weaning her off, and slowly waking her!! The icu dr had not relayed anything of what ourdr had said.l.. And then when they did her obs, she got startled and things were beeping everywhere!! I was telling her I was there with her... And then they sent me out..6pm we lost our beautiful Ash... We miss her so much,and some days I really struggle... I haves great husband, a a great faith, but some days it's not enough!!! I wishi could of taken her place..I dontbelieve she's in heaven watching over me, and I hate it when people say that.. Because really, if Ash saw how much we were suffering, and how much she was missing, she would be devastated.... How do any of you out there cope.. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Toni

ClassicExample Preparing for Death of Loved One
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Hi! My parents are in their late 50's. They are in good health and there is no reason I believe they will be passing sooner rather than later. However, I worry about how I will deal with their eventual death. I have a history of depression and anxiet... View more

Hi! My parents are in their late 50's. They are in good health and there is no reason I believe they will be passing sooner rather than later. However, I worry about how I will deal with their eventual death. I have a history of depression and anxiety, and my folks have been a huge support. I'm concerned that losing them would be a huge blow and I would struggle to cope with their loss. Does anyone have any tips for how to prepare for the death of loved one's? More so, in the long term. If you have lost a loved one, was there anything in particular you struggled with, or wish you'd come to be aware of sooner? Cheers!

Shane82 I miss you Dad
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I am 32, with a wife and 18 month old son which I love very much. Just over 2 years to the day I lost my father unexpectingly. Loneliness, grief, sadness, longing are all emotions I feel every day. 2 years has passed and things don't seem to get any ... View more

I am 32, with a wife and 18 month old son which I love very much. Just over 2 years to the day I lost my father unexpectingly. Loneliness, grief, sadness, longing are all emotions I feel every day. 2 years has passed and things don't seem to get any easier. I know nothing will change and I can't bring it back but I need to move forward to help, support and love my family. I finally found the courage and saw a counsellor. The first few visits have been productive and helpful and I will continue for a few more visits. I hope my lack of communication, distancing myself and troubles have not caused a divide in my relationship with my wife that can't be fixed. Although seeing a counsellor has been productive I wish I could share my feelings and thoughts with my family as they are my life. I have written this to share my thoughts rather than keep them to myself and am not specifically after any feedback.