If you are alone this Christmas and need someone to speak with, here are a few places that could help. If you are grieving following bereavement… The Cruse National Helpline offers a listening ear and emotional support to anyone who has lost someone they love or been affected by a bereavement. All calls are answered…
(An update of an older post) The shops are full of it, the TV schedules already have those corny Christmas films, the pubs are offering festive meals, and we are well advanced into the countdown of shopping days. But quietly, on the pages of forums and support groups, and even more in silent, unseen corners, there are…
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…
