Death should, if the world was a more understanding place, be followed by a gentle period of re-orientation. A time to remember, reflect and recalibrate. But of course real life is not really like that. We look at why making time for self-care is so important following a bereavement.
While it may feel painful to remember a loved one following a bereavement, there is also comfort to be found in the endless possibilities of remembering, the places it can take you, the feelings it can evoke, and with always the tantalising possibility that a time long forgotten will resurface like a delicious gift.
For many people, the thought of talking about death is awkward, scary and depressing. It’s a tricky conversation that’s often just easier to avoid. We hear you, but we also believe that the alternative – leaving your affairs in a mess and your loved ones unaware of your wishes – is much worse. That’s why we are proud to support Dying Matters who are working to break one of society’s biggest taboos.
As thoughts turn at this time of year to living a healthier lifestyle, life coach Karen Whybrow recalls drowning her sorrows after her husband’s death – and the series of realisations that made her see that she needed to stop using alcohol to numb the pain.
Facing Christmas when you're grieving a loved one is always going to be hard and this year, with comforting hugs and hand-holding out of bounds, it may feel more lonely than ever. To help navigate the most difficult time of year, we asked Jo Williams from GriefChat for her advice on how to cope at Christmas.
