When I first lost Catherine I was out of my mind with grief. I searched desperately for anything that would get me through the hours, days, weeks. Quite quickly I discovered The Compassionate Friends and I signed up to their online forum. It was the first time that I had participated in a forum, and…
A post about judgemental attitudes towards our loved one, particularly when their life choices did not match expectations or wishes. Criticism could come from outside – from other people – or from within ourselves. Managing our grief in this situation can be complex. I recently participated in a very useful conference organised by Bereaved Parents…
Loneliness is one of the challenges of bereavement that many people face, particularly if the person they are grieving was their partner or had a significant role in their life. There are various peer-led support groups that can provide relief from the sense of isolation. Talking with other bereaved people is mutually strengthening. Whether it…
As difficult as it may be to sleep during the first shocking days since a bereavement, problems of disturbed sleep may carry on long through the months and years of grief. Not being able to fall asleep, not being able to stay sleep, having troubled sleep are not uncommon. It’s really important to find a…
In my younger years, I used to hitchhike quite a bit. It was much safer in those days (1970s). Though I did have a few close calls, mostly I disregarded the risks, as is typical of youth. (And I would add here that I definitely do not recommend hitchhiking in this day and age.) I remember…
Are you struggling to remember happy times? Is the sadness of your loved one’s passing overwhelming you? Here’s an idea about creating a memory board, but first a personal reflection on the day I started clearing out my books.
I always think it takes quite a bit of courage to attend a retreat. You don’t know what to expect and it is natural to be nervous. So I thought it might be helpful to describe a retreat in a bit more detail. The first thing to say is that I don’t believe anybody has…
