Recently I wrote about the aloneness of grief, but there is another side to the story which is the topic of this post: finding some relief from the loneliness of grief. There is a certain solidarity amongst those who are bereaved in somewhat similar circumstances – a level of understanding that might not exist in…
Some thoughts on coping with the sudden death of a loved one. In some respects, every death is sudden. Even if the death is more or less gradual or anticipated – a long decline from illness is one example – it might seem sudden when the end finally arrives. A baby, child or adult is…
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…
UPDATE 27/1/19: The retreat explained below has now passed. We had a small group of people, all of whom had experienced one or more suicides amongst their close family, and I believe everyone gained something from our time – as one lady wrote, “A very special time. … I have been looking forward to this…
(A personal commentary about the challenges of being a bereaved parent, mother, father) Another day, another loch. We are almost at the end of our two week summer break in Scotland. It has been a lazy “be kind to yourself” time, with the simplest of meals and the simplest of pleasures – amazing scenery, long…
This post is a follow on to the previous article on depression, treatment, and the depressed Christian. Celebrity deaths by suicide often precipitate another round of public discussion about depression, mental illness, and the importance of talking about our problems and not just keeping everything inside. There are other topics that come out too, such…
This blog is primarily about coping with grief, and just because someone is grieving, does not mean that they are depressed. However, recently I’ve met more than a few people whose grief intersects with depression, and I think it’s worthwhile writing about depression in general, and dealing with it as Christians. Mental health problems…
