Moving through grief
Grief is an intensely personal experience that affects each one of us differently. If you’ve lost someone important in your life, either recently or a long time ago, there’s no right or wrong way to cope.
Here, people share the things that have helped them on their journey through grief.
Angie had a stroke and then lost her father
Angie found these things helpful:
- Talking to friends and family.
- Distractions, like swimming or walking.
- Keeping a journal to clarify thoughts.
- Using music to put you in a place of calm.
Try creating your own playlist of song tracks that can soothe you when you're distressed.
Geoff ran a marathon with his father's name on his back
Geoff says:
- grief lasts as long as it lasts
- do something in your loved one's memory
Tommy lost his mum when he was young
Tommy says it helps to:
- write things down on paper
- open up about things and ask for help
- use the support available from bereavement organisations online
- celebrate your loved one's life
Chloe lost her friend to suicide
Chloe explains that there’s no right way to grieve:
- Don’t feel guilty if you’re not grieving in the same way as others.
- Keep in mind what the person you’ve lost would have wanted.
Christine speaks about the death of her son
Christine found these things helpful:
- Spending time in nature and green spaces.
- Creating memorials for the person you’ve lost.
- Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, as this may help with your sleep.
- Eating well.
Jo talks about losing her mum
Jo suggests what helped her on her journey:
- Channelling negative feelings into something positive by helping others.
- Talking about your loved one keeps their memory alive.
Shumela was trapped in grief for years
Shumela shares:
- Education and learning can be part of the healing process.
- The bad things that happen can make you stronger and more resilient.
Please don’t include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions.
